Shettima departs Abuja for AU summit in Ethiopia

Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 2026 African Union Summit.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday.

He said the summit, themed “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” will focus on advancing Africa’s commitments to sustainable water management, improved sanitation and the broader development goals contained in the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework.

Nkwocha said Shetttima will join other African leaders at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government and the 30th General Assembly.

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“While in Addis Ababa, the Vice President will join other African leaders at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government, as well as the 30th General Assembly, scheduled to hold on February 14 and 15, 2026, respectively.

“On the margins of the Summit, Senator Shettima will participate in high-level side events and hold bilateral engagements with political and business leaders aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships across the continent,” the statement read.

He said the Vice President is accompanied by cabinet ministers and other senior government officials.

According to Nkwocha, Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of his official engagements in Ethiopia.