Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has arrived in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the continent-wide organisation that brings together African governments.
The summit is scheduled to hold from Saturday, February 14, 2026 to Sunday, February 15, 2026. Organisers say the theme is “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” with discussions expected to focus on sustainable water management, safer sanitation systems, and wider development priorities under Agenda 2063, the African Union’s long-term plan for the continent.
Shettima was received on arrival at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa by Ethiopia’s Minister of Innovation and Technology, Doctor Belete Mola, and Ethiopia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, senior officials of Nigeria’s Embassy in Addis Ababa, and other government representatives were also present.
Tuggar later briefed the Vice President on his itinerary and planned engagements at the summit. Nigerian officials say Shettima is expected to participate in high-level side events and hold bilateral meetings with political and business leaders, as Nigeria seeks to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships across Africa.
In a statement issued on Friday, February 13, 2026 by Kimiebi Ebienfa, a spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tuggar also outlined Nigeria’s outcomes from the 48th Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, a meeting of foreign ministers that prepares decisions and agenda items ahead of the leaders’ summit.
Tuggar said Nigeria recorded diplomatic and institutional gains that reinforced its role in advancing Africa’s economic integration, including an agreement to grant Nigeria a permanent seat on the Board of the African Central Bank, a planned institution linked to the African Union’s financial integration framework.
He added that the decision also extends Nigeria’s representation to the Board of the Technical Convergence Committee of the African Monetary Institute, which is designed to support steps toward establishing the African Central Bank. Tuggar said these developments reflect Nigeria’s technical capacity, economic significance, and continued commitment to Africa’s monetary integration plans.
On peace and security, he said the session also produced the election of candidates jointly agreed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African regional bloc that includes Nigeria, to the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. He said the outcome reflected cohesion among ECOWAS member states and their shared commitment to stability on the continent.
Tuggar also said Nigeria organised a Ministerial High-Level Panel Discussion on Regional Partnerships for Democracy, which he said brought together ministers, senior officials, and delegates from across Africa and the international community to discuss strengthening democratic institutions, inclusive governance, and regional cooperation.
Photos of Shettima’s arrival were credited to Kashim Shettima’s X account, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.