By Hajara Abdullahi
President Tinubu has called for equitable resources distribution, governance and AI at the ongoing G20 summit in Johannesburg Expo Centre, South Africa.
This was revealed in a statement on X by Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha on Saturday.
President Tinubu was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima following cancellation of his earlier trip over security concerns in Nigeria.
This year’s theme is “A Fair and Just Future for All: Critical Minerals,Decent Work, Artificial Intelligence”.
According to Nkwocha, Shettima delivering his speech on behalf of President Tinubu pointed that this year’s theme of the summit borders on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, trade, financing for development and the debt burden speaks of the realities of developing nations.
President Tinubu also calls for transparency, accountability and fairness in the extraction and distribution of mineral resources across Africa, stressing that they hold the promise of industrial transformation for the continent.
“Nigeria calls for a global framework that promotes value addition at the source, supports local beneficiation, and ensures that communities hosting these resources are not left behind” Tinubu said
He also emphasized that resources extraction and trade are necessary for communities development and shared progress while urging the 20 leaders to deepen collaboration on technology transfer, capacity building,and inclusive investments that prioritize human dignity over profit alone to ensure a just and fair future
“Nigeria through the Renewed Hope Agenda, is investing in future-ready skills by empowering Nigerian youths through digital literacy, vocational training, and entrepreneurship” Tinubu said
VP Shetiima speaking on a fair deal in trade for Africa and developing nations said “For trade to be truly inclusive, the G20 must take bold and deliberate steps towards reforming the international financial architecture and the global institutions that sustain them”
He noted that it would be difficult for Africa to realize a positive paradigm shift in development trajectory without a collective resolve of the G20 adding that rising debts have continued “to drag economies back into cycles of fragility,” transforming “local difficulties into global vulnerabilities.”
“The G20 must, in adopting the Leaders’ Declaration, take with utmost seriousness the responsibility to advance policies that drive sustainable growth, promote financial inclusion and confront emerging risks,” he added.
Lastly he implored the G20 to place debt sustainablity and effective utilisation of critical minerals at the heart of its agenda for inclusive development.