Vice-President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the multilateral trading system, saying countries cannot achieve sustainable prosperity by withdrawing from the global community.
Gatekeepers News reports that Shettima spoke on Saturday during a meeting with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the sidelines of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India.
The Vice-President said Nigeria would continue to support the WTO’s efforts to promote multilateralism and strengthen international cooperation, stressing the importance of countries working together rather than pursuing isolation.
“I believe the world is greater than one nation. We will continue to support the WTO in championing the cause of multilateralism. We are essentially one human family and interconnected. You cannot divorce yourself from the global community,” Shettima said.
He also highlighted the role of migration in driving development, innovation and economic growth, noting that people who move across borders have historically contributed to the growth of nations and cities.
“Nations are built by immigrants. Even cities are built by people who came from outside, not just by the locals. That goes to show that we have so much to gain from global migration,” he said.
Shettima cited Nigerians living abroad as an example, noting their contributions in education, business and professional fields.
He referred to a recent analysis by the Pew Research Center based on 2024 US Census Bureau data, which found that 67 percent of Nigerian-born Black immigrants aged 25 and above in the United States had at least a bachelor’s degree.
The Vice-President also praised Okonjo-Iweala for her work at the WTO and encouraged her to continue using her experience to contribute to global development.
“You are doing a very wonderful job at the WTO, but you still have a lot to contribute to humanity,” he told the WTO director-general.
Shettima is expected to present Nigeria’s partnership and foreign investment opportunities to BRICS leaders when he addresses the summit on Sunday.
The summit is being held under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
