Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima has embarked on a journey to the city of Havana, Cuba, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the G77 Summit, scheduled from the 15th to the 17th of September, 2023.
Amidst the backdrop of this international gathering, Vice President Shettima will be sharing the stage with an assembly of distinguished global leaders to engage in profound deliberations, addressing the intricate web of development challenges that confront the member nations of the G77, predominantly hailing from the expansive global south.
The G77 summit is poised to embark on a forward-looking journey, exploring innovative approaches to surmount the myriad challenges that impede the growth of its constituent states. A pivotal emphasis will be placed on harnessing the transformative potential of science, technology, and innovation to propel socio-economic advancement.
Adding another layer of significance to this diplomatic excursion, Vice President Shettima will seize the opportunity to engage in bilateral discussions with his global counterparts. His primary objective is to champion Nigeria’s trade and investment prospects in alignment with President Tinubu’s vision for economic development.
This august gathering finds its gracious host in the distinguished figure of the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, who serves as the esteemed Chairman of the G77 and China. The central theme of this year’s summit, reverberating with relevance and promise, is “Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology, and Innovation.”
Accompanying the Vice President are the esteemed Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abubakar Kyari; the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji; and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Adamu Lamuwa, among other distinguished delegates.
Nigeria, a founding member of the G77 consortium, traces its roots back to 1964 when it was conceived by seventy-seven developing nations. This coalition, now comprised of 134 developing nations representing a staggering 80% of the world’s population, is dedicated to advancing the collective economic interests of its members. Additionally, it seeks to amplify their unified negotiating prowess within the chambers of the United Nations.