Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he will be representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
The Vice President is also expected to participate in the AU’s 30th Ordinary General Assembly, scheduled to hold on February 14 and 15, 2026.
This was confirmed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha.
On arrival at the Bole International Airport, Shettima was received by Ethiopia’s Minister of Innovation and Technology, Dr. Belete Mola, alongside the State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye.
Also present to welcome the Vice President were Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed; the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Nigeria in Ethiopia, Ambassador Nasiru Aminu; Head of Consular and Ambassador-designate, Ambassador Geoffrey Chima; as well as other Nigerian and Ethiopian government officials.
Shortly after his arrival, Ambassador Tuggar briefed the Vice President on his itinerary and engagements scheduled for the summit.
This year’s AU summit is themed “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” with discussions expected to centre on advancing continental commitments to sustainable water management, improved sanitation, and broader development priorities under the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework.
Beyond the main plenary sessions, Shettima is expected to participate in high-level side events and bilateral meetings with political and business leaders, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships across Africa.
Speaking with journalists after the briefing, Ambassador Tuggar described the launch of the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD) as “a strategic move to consolidate and strengthen the democratic culture in Africa.”
He added that Nigeria was already benefiting from its engagement at the continental level, citing the country’s confirmation as host of the African Monetary Institute and the African Central Bank, as well as its nomination to the board of the bank.