Vice President Shettima Returns to Abuja After COP30 in Brazil
Abuja, Nigeria — November 10, 2025
Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after leading Nigeria’s delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) held in Belém, Brazil. The high-level conference brought together global leaders, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to advance international efforts toward combating climate change and promoting sustainable development.
In a statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Leaders’ Climate Summit hosted by Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
During the summit, Vice President Shettima delivered Nigeria’s national statement titled “The Rational Soul of Nature.” In his address, he urged world leaders to recognize the economic value of nature and to channel substantial financing toward environmental protection and restoration through predictable, equitable, and accessible funding mechanisms.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to global climate action, noting that the country’s renewed climate agenda represents “not just an aspiration, but a solemn national commitment to preserve the planet for future generations.”
On the sidelines of COP30, Vice President Shettima also engaged in strategic bilateral meetings focused on carbon market cooperation. These discussions, according to the statement, aim to unlock between $2.5 billion and $3 billion annually in carbon finance for Nigeria over the next decade. The funds are expected to bolster the nation’s transition to a low-carbon economy and support initiatives that drive green growth, energy access, and environmental resilience.
The Vice President’s participation at COP30 underscored Nigeria’s growing role in shaping global climate policy and its determination to lead Africa’s transition toward sustainable and inclusive economic transformation.
