Guterres Urges Nigeria to Lead Africa's Global Charge

During a high-level bilateral meeting on Friday night at the 39th African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized Nigeria's unique position to lead Africa's charge for a new global order. He commended the economic reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu's administration and highlighted Nigeria's leadership role in stabilizing the Sahel and ECOWAS regions despite its own security challenges.

Guterres noted Nigeria's large population, sustained democratic governance, and vast natural resources as factors that position the country to potentially become a superpower and evolve the global order. Vice President Kashim Shettima expressed gratitude for Guterres' leadership in promoting global peace and reiterated Nigeria's long-standing call for comprehensive reform of the UN system to reflect evolving global realities.

He emphasized that Africa deserves stronger representation in global decision-making structures, including a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Guterres reaffirmed the UN's support for Nigeria's reform agenda to advance peace, security, and development across the continent.