RismadarVoice Reporters
February 16, 2026
Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government and the 30th African Union General Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
His return was disclosed in a statement issued Sunday night by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, titled “VP Shettima Back in Abuja After Successful Engagements at 39th AU Summit.”
The summit, on the theme “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” brought together African leaders to advance commitments on sustainable water management, improved sanitation, and the continent’s long-term development blueprint under Agenda 2063.
During the summit, Vice President Shettima participated in high-level side events and held bilateral meetings with political and business leaders aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships across Africa.
He also met with the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, who reportedly urged Nigeria to take the lead in Africa’s push for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to help steer the continent toward greater global influence.
At a high-level side event titled “Building Africa’s Health Security Sovereignty,” Shettima called for a continental shift toward self-reliant health systems. He urged African nations to reduce dependence on foreign aid and build resilient, homegrown healthcare structures.
The Vice President noted that it had become necessary to ensure that the health of Africans is not subjected to uncertainties in global supply chains or shifting international priorities.
Since assuming office, Vice President Shettima has spent 73 days on official trips abroad, visiting 16 countries across 22 engagements. His travels have covered more than 43,000 nautical miles, amounting to over 93 flight hours.
Countries visited include Italy, Russia,
;South Africa, Cuba, China, the United States, Switc.zerland, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Liberia, Ethiopia, and Guinea, among others.
