…to attend heads of state meeting, side events, bilateral talks in Addis Ababa
…Nigeria already reaping gains, clinches African monetary institutions’ hosting rights — Tuggar
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government and the 30th AU General Assembly scheduled for February 14 and 15, 2026.
Shettima landed at the Bole International Airport, where he was received by Ethiopia’s Minister of Innovation and Technology, Dr Belete Mola, and the State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye.
Also on hand to welcome the Vice President were Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed; Chargé d’Affaires at the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia, Ambassador Nasiru Aminu; Head of Consular and Ambassador-Designate, Ambassador Geoffrey Chima; and other officials.
On arrival, Tuggar briefed the Vice President on his schedule and key engagements lined up for the summit.
Read Also: Remi Tinubu urges Nigerians to embrace unity for national progress
This year’s AU summit is themed: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.” Deliberations will centre on strengthening continental commitments to sustainable water management, improved sanitation systems and broader development objectives under the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework.
Beyond the main plenary sessions, Shettima is expected to attend high-level side events and hold bilateral meetings with political and business leaders to advance Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic and strategic interests across the continent.
Addressing journalists after the briefing, Tuggar described the planned launch of the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD) as a strategic initiative aimed at deepening and consolidating democratic culture in Africa.
He added that Nigeria was already recording gains from its engagement within the AU, citing confirmation of the country as host of the African Monetary Institute and the African Central Bank, as well as its nomination to the board of the bank.
