Vice President Kashim Shettima has travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 2026 African Union (AU) Summit. The announcement was made on Thursday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications in the Office of the Vice President.
The summit, themed “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” will convene African leaders to advance continental commitments on water resource management and sanitation infrastructure. These issues are central to the AU’s long-term development blueprint, Agenda 2063, which envisions an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa.
During his stay, Vice President Shettima will participate in the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government on February 14, followed by the 30th General Assembly on February 15, 2026. On the summit’s margins, he is scheduled to attend high-level side events and hold bilateral meetings with political and business leaders. These engagements aim to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships across the continent.
The Vice President is accompanied by several cabinet ministers and senior government officials. He is expected to return to Abuja upon the conclusion of his official duties in Addis Ababa.
The focus on water and sanitation underscores a critical development priority for Africa, where access to clean water and adequate sanitation remains a significant challenge for many communities. The summit provides a platform for member states to share strategies, mobilise resources, and reaffirm collective action towards achieving the sustainable development goals embedded within Agenda 2063. Nigeria’s representation at the highest level signals its ongoing commitment to continental cooperation on these foundational issues.
