President Bola Tinubu has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
This was disclosed in a statement signed on Sunday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Mr. Stanley Nkwocha. The statement, titled *’VP Shettima to Represent President Tinubu at CHOGM 2024.’
“VP Shettima will join King Charles of England and other world leaders from 56 member countries at the first CHOGM to be held in the Pacific island of Apia, Samoa, from October 21 to 26,” said Nkwocha.
The Commonwealth leaders will deliberate on the theme, ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming Our Common Wealth.’
Discussions will center on how member nations can build resilience, unlock potential, and capitalize on the “Commonwealth Advantage” to foster a more connected and digitally integrated Commonwealth.
“At this meeting, Nigeria and other member countries will 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 the African region.
“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,” the statement read.
At the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside other global leaders, will build on the progress made at CHOGM 2022, focusing on the global economy, environmental concerns, and security challenges. The discussions will explore ways for Commonwealth nations to collaborate in strengthening resilience, enhancing trade, driving innovation, and fostering growth. Leaders will also focus on empowering the Commonwealth’s 1.5 billion young people to create a more peaceful and sustainable future.
Shettima is expected to leverage the Commonwealth Business Forum to attract foreign investment to Nigeria, as global experts from the business and private sectors gather to propose solutions to international challenges.
In addition to participating in the People’s Forum, which provides a platform for citizens to engage with leaders on global development issues, the Vice President will take part in bilateral meetings and other key executive sessions.
Samoa will mark Vice President Kashim Shettima’s 11th foreign destination and 12th international trip since taking office.
To date, the Vice President has spent 56 days abroad, visiting 10 countries on 12 different occasions, logging over 93 flight hours. His previous trips have taken him to cities such as Rome, Italy; St. Petersburg, Russia; Johannesburg, South Africa; Havana, Cuba; Beijing, China; Iowa and New York in the United States; Davos, Switzerland; Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; and Stockholm, Sweden.
