Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in Luanda, Angola, on Sunday to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).
A statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, revealed that upon his arrival in the Angolan capital, Senator Shettima was received by senior Angolan government officials as well as members of the Nigerian delegation already in Luanda for the high-level continental meeting.
Among the Nigerian officials who received the Vice President was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Defense, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (IRT); Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Angola, Amb. Maxy Ogbede Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Regional Development, Eng. Abubakar Momoh; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; and Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, among other senior government officials.
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The Extraordinary Summit, whose theme is “Strengthening mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution in Africa”, brings together African Heads of State and Government to review existing mechanisms on the continent to prevent and resolve conflicts and consider practical measures to respond to emerging peace and security challenges.
The meeting, held in Luanda, is expected to strengthen Africa’s approach to early warning and early action, preventive diplomacy and coordination between the AU, Member States and regional economic communities, as well as reinforce the role of the AU Peace and Security Council.
It will also consider sustainable African financing for peace and security, stronger responses to terrorism and violent extremism, and measures to improve the effectiveness of the African Peace and Security Architecture and the African Governance Architecture.
Before the meeting of Heads of State and Government, the 26th Extraordinary Session of the AU Executive Council was held in Luanda on Saturday, bringing together foreign ministers and other senior officials of member states to prepare the ground for the leaders’ deliberations.
Upon his arrival, VP Shettima received a briefing from the Minister of External Affairs, Amb. Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Nigerian Mission officials on issues expected to feature prominently at the summit..
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