President Bola Tinubu has appointed Vice President Kashim Shettima to spearhead Nigeria’s delegation at the upcoming 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
As per a statement from Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President’s media aide, Shettima will join King Charles of England and other leaders from 56 member nations at the inaugural CHOGM to be hosted in Apia, Samoa, from October 21 to 26.
During the summit, participants will focus on the theme “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth,” which aims to explore how member states can leverage their collective strengths, enhance resilience, unlock potential, and foster a connected, digital Commonwealth.
Nkwocha highlighted that Nigeria, alongside other member nations, will also participate in the election and appointment of the next Commonwealth Secretary-General. In accordance with the revised 2022 Agreed Memorandum on the Establishment and Functions of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the principle of regional rotation, the next Secretary-General is set to be from the African region.
Candidates for this important position include representatives from Lesotho, Ghana, and The Gambia, with Nigeria positioned to play a significant role as the largest African member.
Building on the advancements made at the 2022 CHOGM, Vice President Shettima and his fellow leaders will also engage in discussions regarding the global economy, environmental issues, and security challenges, focusing on collaborative efforts among Commonwealth countries to enhance resilience, promote trade and innovation, and empower the Commonwealth’s 1.5 billion youth for a more peaceful and sustainable future, according to Nkwocha.
Furthermore, the Vice President is expected to utilize the Commonwealth Business Forum as a platform to attract international investors to Nigeria, where global business experts will gather to propose and advocate solutions for pressing global challenges.
In addition, Shettima will take part in the People’s Forum, the largest initiative organized by the Commonwealth Foundation for public engagement with leaders on global development topics, as well as participate in bilateral meetings and various executive sessions, as stated by his aide.
