Vice President Kashim Shettima will depart for Samoa to represent President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, as the head of Nigeria’s delegation to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
He will join King Charles of England and other world leaders from 56 member countries at the first CHOGM to be held on the Pacific island of Apia, from October 21 to 26. They will deliberate on the theme, “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Commonwealth.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, the vice president’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, highlighted that the theme will focus on how member countries can harness their strengths through resilience, unlock potential, leverage the “Commonwealth Advantage,” and foster a connected, digital Commonwealth.
The statement added that during the meeting, Nigeria and other member countries will also elect and appoint the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.
It noted that, in accordance with the Agreed Memorandum on the Establishment and Functions of the Commonwealth Secretariat (revised 2022) and the principle of regional rotation, the next Commonwealth Secretary-General will come from the Africa Region. The candidates for the role are from Lesotho, Ghana, and The Gambia, with Nigeria set to play a major role as the largest African member in this regard.
Additionally, the statement mentioned that, building on the progress made at CHOGM 2022, Shettima and other world leaders will deliberate on global economic, environmental, and security challenges, discussing how Commonwealth countries can collaborate to build resilience, boost trade, foster innovation and growth, and empower the Commonwealth’s 1.5 billion young people for a more peaceful and sustainable future.
The vice president is also expected to use the platform provided by the Commonwealth Business Forum to attract investors to Nigeria, as global experts from business and the private sector convene to propose and champion solutions to global challenges.
Shettima will further participate in the People’s Forum, the largest opportunity organized by the Commonwealth Foundation for public engagement on global development issues. He will also engage in bilateral meetings and other executive sessions.
