United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres has called on Nigeria to lead Africa’s push for a restructured global governance system, describing the nation as uniquely qualified to become the continent’s next “superpower.”
The endorsement came during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday, held on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Ethiopia.
Guterres lauded Nigeria’s resilience, noting that its “demographic strength, democratic continuity, and deep resource base” place it at the forefront of the evolving global architecture.
The UN Chief offered strong praise for the economic and security initiatives of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
Despite Nigeria’s internal security challenges, Guterres highlighted the country’s pivotal role in promoting regional stability, particularly through its leadership efforts in the Sahel and within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region.
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He also commended Nigeria for implementing bold economic reforms that have strengthened its standing on the continental stage, while maintaining a longstanding commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation.
“Nigeria stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” Guterres remarked during the talks.
Shettima utilised the platform to reiterate Nigeria’s demand for a “comprehensive reform” of the UN system, specifically targeting the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Nigeria is formally bidding for a permanent seat on the UNSC to reflect modern global realities.
Shettima argued that Africa must have a stronger, more equitable voice in global decision-making.
He thanked Guterres for his leadership, noting that Africa has benefited from the UN’s ongoing internal restructuring.
The meeting concluded with both leaders pledging to deepen collaboration across several critical areas.
They agreed to coordinate efforts towards achieving the United Nations’ global sustainable development targets, streamline humanitarian assistance to reach Africa’s most vulnerable regions more effectively, and strengthen peace and security initiatives by leveraging Nigeria’s leadership role to address regional conflicts.
As the 39th AU Summit continues, this high-level meeting underscores Nigeria’s growing diplomatic momentum as it seeks to translate its regional influence into a more powerful role on the world stage.
