Vice President Kashim Shettima will represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, from October 21 to 26.
It is the first time CHOGM will be held in the Pacific island nation.
The Vice President will join King Charles of England and other world leaders from 56 member-countries in the Commonwealth to deliberate on the theme: One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth.
This year’s meeting will focus on how member-countries could harness their strengths through resilience, unlocking potential, leveraging the ‘Commonwealth Advantage’, and fostering a connected, digital Commonwealth.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, said Nigeria and other member-countries would also elect and appoint the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.
In line with the Agreed Memorandum on the Establishment and Functions of the Commonwealth Secretariat (Revised 2022) and the principle of regional rotation, the next Commonwealth Secretary-General will come from Africa.
The candidates for the role are from Lesotho, Ghana, and The Gambia, while Nigeria will have a major role to play as the largest African member in this regard.
Consolidating the progress made at CHOGM 2022, Shettima and other world leaders will deliberate on the global economy, environmental and security challenges, discussing how Commonwealth countries can work together to build resilience, boost trade, innovation, growth, and empower the Commonwealth’s 1.5 billion young people for a more peaceful and sustainable future.
The Vice President is expected to use the Commonwealth Business Forum to further attract investors to Nigeria, as global experts from businesses and the private sector convene to recommend and champion solutions to global challenges.
Shettima is also expected to participate in the People’s Forum, the single largest opportunity organised by the Commonwealth Foundation for people to engage with leaders on global development issues.
He will also engage in bilateral meetings and other executive sessions.