President Bola Tinubu has appointed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which will take place in Apia, Samoa, from October 21 to 26.
This will be the first CHOGM hosted by the Pacific island nation.
The Vice President will join King Charles III of England and other leaders from the 56 Commonwealth member countries to deliberate on the theme ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth.’ The discussions will focus on resilience, unlocking potential, enhancing the ‘Commonwealth Advantage,’ and promoting a connected, digital Commonwealth.
During this meeting, Nigeria, along with other members, will play a significant role in electing the next Commonwealth Secretary-General, with the selection expected to come from Africa.
Candidates from Lesotho, Ghana, and The Gambia are in the running.
Vice President Shettima and the other leaders will also address critical global issues, such as the economy, environment, and security, aiming to boost trade, innovation, and growth within the Commonwealth, while also empowering the 1.5 billion youth across member nations.
Shettima will leverage the Commonwealth Business Forum to attract investors to Nigeria, as business leaders and experts come together to propose solutions to global challenges.
He will also participate in the People’s Forum, the Commonwealth Foundation’s platform for engaging with leaders on development issues.
This trip to Samoa marks Shettima’s 11th foreign destination and 12th trip abroad, with visits already made to countries including Italy, Russia, South Africa, Cuba, China, and the United States.
