Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Costa Rican candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, Rebeca Grynspan, that Nigeria will support a candidate committed to equity, justice and fairness in global affairs.
Shettima gave the assurance when he met with Grynspan in New York at the conclusion of his engagements at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The Vice President said Nigeria’s consideration would be guided by the country’s longstanding relationship with Latin America, commitment to multilateralism, conflict prevention and the promotion of Africa’s interests in global decision-making.
“Thank you for seeking Nigeria’s perspective for your candidature of the United Nations Secretary-General,” Shettima said.
“Nigeria and Costa Rica share a common historical background connecting both countries and their regions. We also have a cordial relationship with Latin America, and we do not wish to jeopardise it.”
He added that Nigeria would continue to advocate reforms to the global governance system, noting that the international architecture established in 1945 had yet to adequately reflect Africa’s growing population and role in world affairs.
Grynspan, who was nominated by Costa Rica in March 2026, said she was seeking to lead the UN through reforms demanded by countries, particularly those in the Global South. The UN officially lists her among the candidates in the ongoing selection process.
“Coming from the Global South, I represent the interests and demands of the region. I also have a soft spot for Africa. I know the continent and its aspirations,” Grynspan said.
She pledged to prioritise peace and said Africa’s aspiration for permanent representation on the UN Security Council would receive urgent attention under her proposed agenda.
Nigeria, Netherlands Deepen Financial Inclusion Partnership
In a related development, Nigeria and the Netherlands have agreed to deepen cooperation on financial inclusion, with particular attention to women and vulnerable members of society.
The agreement followed a bilateral meeting between Shettima and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands in New York. Queen Máxima also serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development.
Shettima welcomed the Netherlands’ offer to share expertise and experience in financial health, describing the focus as timely for Nigeria’s development priorities.
According to him, financial inclusion has direct implications for education, security and poverty reduction, while existing government initiatives, including conditional cash transfers and agricultural intervention programmes, are already supporting the objective.
The Vice President also highlighted the role of Nigeria’s fintech sector in expanding access to financial services among previously underserved populations.
Defending the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Shettima said the measures were necessary in view of the condition of the Nigerian economy when the administration assumed office in 2023.
Queen Máxima acknowledged what she described as strong growth in the Nigerian economy and pledged continued support from the Netherlands in areas including insurance, credit guarantees and data generation.
She said the financial health agenda was aimed at strengthening citizens’ resilience, protecting investments and expanding access to insurance.
Queen Máxima also urged private-sector stakeholders to treat the financial wellbeing of their customers as an important factor in the sustainability and growth of their businesses.
The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, had earlier said reforms in areas including insurance and pensions, alongside recent measures announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, were expected to improve access to credit and reduce its cost.
The discussions formed part of Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic engagements on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.