Shettima Reaffirms Nigeria’s Support for WTO, multilateralism

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria will continue to support the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and multilateralism, noting that countries cannot prosper by isolating themselves from the global community.

Shettima spoke on Saturday during a meeting with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO’s director-general, on the sidelines of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India.

“I believe the world is greater than one nation. We will continue to support the WTO in championing the cause of multilateralism,” Shettima was quoted in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, his media aide .

“We are essentially one human family and interconnected. You cannot divorce yourself from the global community.”

The vice-president also backed migration as a driver of development, innovation, and economic growth, saying immigrants have historically contributed to the development of nations and cities.

“Nations are built by immigrants. Even cities are built by people who came from outside, not just by the locals,” he said.

“That goes to show that we have so much to gain from global migration.”

Shettima cited the Nigerian diaspora as an example, saying Nigerians living abroad have distinguished themselves through education, enterprise, and professional achievements.

He said a recent Pew Research Center analysis of 2024 US Census Bureau data showed that 67 percent of Nigerian-born Black immigrants aged 25 and above in the United States had at least a bachelor’s degree.

According to Shettima, this was the highest proportion among the major Black immigrant groups examined in the analysis.

The vice-president also commended Okonjo-Iweala for her leadership of the WTO.

“You are doing a very wonderful job at the WTO, but you still have a lot to contribute to humanity,” he said.

According to the statement, Shettima is expected to address BRICS leaders on Sunday on Nigeria’s partnership with the bloc and the country’s foreign investment opportunities.

He is also expected to highlight President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, including reforms, infrastructure expansion and private-sector-led growth, as part of Nigeria’s pitch for a more inclusive international economic order.