VP Shettima Arrives Addis Ababa For 39th AU Assembly.

February 13, 2026

By Ferdinand Olise

Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Friday, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly scheduled for February 14–15, 2026.

He was received on arrival at the Bole International Airport by Ethiopian Minister of Innovation and Technology Dr. Belete Mola and State Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Berhanu Tsegaye, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, the Head of the Nigerian Embassy in Addis Ababa and senior government officials.

The Ministry of Foreign in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said “during the just concluded 48th Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, the Nigerian delegation which was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and also attended by the Minister of Finance recorded significant diplomatic and institutional achievements, consolidating its leadership role in advancing Africa’s economic integration, peace, security, and democratic governance”.

A major highlight of the session was the Council’s agreement to grant Nigeria a permanent seat on the Board of the African Central Bank, a landmark development that underscores Nigeria’s strategic role in shaping Africa’s financial architecture. This decision also extends Nigeria’s representation to the Board of the Technical Convergence Committee of the African Monetary Institute, which serves as the precursor to the establishment of the African Central Bank. These developments affirm Nigeria’s technical capacity, economic significance, and commitment to advancing Africa’s monetary integration agenda.

Ebienfa stated further, “Nigeria’s engagements and outcomes at the 48th Executive Session of the Executive Council reaffirm the country’s commitment to the ideals and objectives of the African Union, particularly in promoting economic integration, institutional development, peace, security, and democratic governance across the continent”.