…Deepens financial inclusion talks with Netherlands
……Meets Costa Rican candidate Grynspan, Queen Máxima in New York

Nigeria will be guided by equity, justice, fairness and Africa’s aspirations in determining its position on the next United Nations Secretary-General, Vice President Kashim Shettima has said.

Shettima stated this during separate engagements in New York with Costa Rican candidate for the UN Secretary-General position, Rebeca Grynspan, and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, with discussions also focusing on strengthening financial inclusion and economic opportunities for Nigerians.

At his meeting with Grynspan, Shettima said Nigeria would support a candidate committed to multilateralism, conflict prevention and reforms that would give Africa a stronger voice in global decision-making.

He said Nigeria’s assessment of candidates would also take into account the country’s longstanding relationship with Latin America, gender inclusion and the need for greater representation of Africa in international institutions.

“Thank you for seeking Nigeria’s perspective for your candidature for the United Nations Secretary-General. Nigeria and Costa Rica share a common historical background connecting both countries and our regions.

“We also have a cordial relationship with Latin America, and we do not wish to jeopardise it. Beyond our historical ties and relations rest our interest in conflict prevention, multilateralism and the peace of our nations,” Shettima said.

The Vice President said the global governance architecture had changed considerably since 1945 but had yet to adequately reflect Africa’s demographic and strategic importance.

He stressed that the continent, with a population of more than 1.3 billion people, deserved greater representation in key global decision-making institutions, particularly the UN Security Council.

Grynspan, who is seeking Nigeria’s support for her candidature, said she was prepared to pursue reforms demanded by countries, particularly those of the Global South.

“Coming from the Global South, I represent the interests and demands of the region. I also have a soft spot for Africa. I know the continent and its aspirations,” she said.

The Costa Rican diplomat pledged to prioritise peace and support Africa’s longstanding demand for permanent representation on the UN Security Council.

In a separate engagement, Nigeria and the Netherlands agreed to strengthen cooperation on financial inclusion and financial health, particularly for women and vulnerable groups.

The agreement followed Shettima’s bilateral meeting with Queen Máxima of the Netherlands in New York.

Queen Máxima, who is the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, offered Dutch expertise and experience to support Nigeria’s efforts to expand access to financial services and improve financial resilience.

Shettima welcomed the offer, saying financial health was closely linked to education, security, poverty reduction and the broader economic wellbeing of Nigerians.

He cited the Federal Government’s conditional cash transfer programme and interventions in agriculture among initiatives aimed at expanding economic opportunities and financial access for vulnerable Nigerians.

The Vice President also highlighted the role of Nigerian fintech companies in extending financial services to millions of people previously excluded from the formal financial system.

Shettima, while explaining the rationale for the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration, said the measures were necessary because of the condition of the economy when the government assumed office in 2023.

Queen Máxima acknowledged the progress recorded by the Nigerian economy and pledged the Netherlands’ support for efforts to strengthen financial health.

She said her country could share expertise in insurance, credit guarantees and data generation, among other areas.
According to her, improved financial health would strengthen citizens’ resilience, protect their investments and widen access to insurance and other financial services.

She also urged private-sector operators to regard the financial wellbeing of their customers as central to the sustainability and growth of their businesses.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said existing government policies on insurance and pensions, alongside recent measures by the Central Bank of Nigeria, would help improve access to credit and reduce its cost.

He said financial inclusion remained a major priority of the Tinubu administration as part of efforts to enable low-income Nigerians to build better livelihoods.