By Danjuma Amodu | February 16, 2026
Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government, and the 30th AU General Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Shettima used the summit platform to advocate for a continental shift toward health security sovereignty in Africa, calling on African nations to move away from dependence on foreign aid and build self-sufficient, homegrown health systems.
Shettima, also held a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who urged Nigeria to lead Africa’s push for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to steer the continent toward superpower status. He advocated for a continental shift toward health security sovereignty in Africa, calling on African nations to move away from dependence on foreign aid and build self-sufficient, homegrown health systems.
The summit’s theme was “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063”.
Shettima participated in high-level side events and held bilateral engagements with political and business leaders, aiming to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships across the continent.
“It had become a matter of necessity to ensure the health of Africans is not subjected to the uncertainties of distant supply chains or the shifting priorities of global panic,” Shettima said.
