Nigeria will support a candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General who is committed to advancing Africa’s aspirations in global affairs, particularly securing representation in key decision-making bodies and promoting multilateralism, Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said.
Shettima stated this during a meeting with Costa Rica’s candidate for the UN Secretary-General position, Rebeca Grynspan, who sought Nigeria’s support for her candidature ahead of the election.
The Vice-President said Nigeria’s position would be guided by the principles of equity, justice and fairness, as well as the candidate’s commitment to addressing Africa’s concerns in the international system, according to a statement issued by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha.
He stressed that Nigeria would support a candidate who recognises the continent’s right to a greater role in global governance, particularly in the reform of the United Nations and the expansion of Africa’s representation in key decision-making institutions.
Shettima, who met Grynspan shortly before returning to Nigeria, said the country’s decision would also take into consideration its longstanding relations with Latin America, conflict prevention, multilateralism and gender inclusion.
“Thank you for seeking Nigeria’s perspective for your candidature of the United Nations Secretary-General. 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. Beyond our historical ties and relations rest our interest in conflict prevention, multilateralism, and the peace of our nations,” he said.
The Vice-President argued that the existing global governance architecture, established in 1945, had failed to reflect the demographic and political realities of the contemporary world, particularly Africa’s growing population and its increasing importance in international affairs.
He noted that Africa, with a population of more than 1.3 billion people, deserved a more prominent place in global decision-making, especially at a time when countries were increasingly advocating reforms to make multilateral institutions more representative.
Shettima’s position comes amid growing calls by African countries for reforms of the United Nations Security Council to address what they regard as the continent’s inadequate representation in the body responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
Responding, Grynspan, a former Vice-President of Costa Rica, said her candidature was driven by the need to reform the United Nations and make the organisation more responsive to the aspirations of developing countries, particularly those in the Global South.
She expressed her commitment to advancing Africa’s interests, saying her background and understanding of the challenges confronting developing countries would inform her leadership of the global body.
“Coming from the Global South, I represent the interest and demands of the region. I also have a soft spot for Africa. I know the continent and its aspirations,” she said.
The Costa Rican diplomat pledged to prioritise peace and address the structural challenges confronting the United Nations, assuring that Africa’s ambition to secure permanent membership of the UN Security Council would receive urgent attention under her leadership.
She said her proposed agenda would place peace above competing interests while pursuing the institutional changes needed to strengthen the organisation’s effectiveness and credibility.
Grynspan’s appeal to Nigeria underscores the importance of Africa’s position in the selection of the next UN Secretary-General, particularly as developing countries continue to demand a more inclusive international system.