Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja to represent President Bola Tinubu at the inauguration of Guinea-Conakry’s president-elect, Mamadi Doumbouya, in Conakry.

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Mr Nkwocha explained that the inauguration of Mr Doumbouya, following his electoral victory, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 17, at the GLC Stadium, Nongo, Conakry.

He said the vice-president’s attendance at the inauguration of Mr Doumbouya is a strategic move to advance regional leadership, economic partnership, and global economic integration under Mr Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

”It is part of Nigeria’s leadership role within ECOWAS, which includes supporting Guinea’s return to constitutional order, following a four-year transition.

”Beyond diplomatic solidarity, the visit aims to deepen bilateral trade, which recently saw Nigerian exports to Guinea, particularly manufactured goods and agricultural products, increasing to 3.29 million dollars,“ he said.

Mr Nkwocha said that from Guinea, Mr Shettima will proceed to Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, to participate in the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF 2026).

According to him, the forum is scheduled to be held from January 19 to 23.

He said Mr Shettima would engage global leaders and investors on Nigeria’s economic reform agenda, investment opportunities, and Africa’s role in shaping a resilient and inclusive global future.

Mr Nkwosha said WEF 2026, under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” will bring together leaders from government, business, civil society, and the scientific and cultural communities to foster dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and future-oriented solutions to shared global challenges.

He said key deliberations at the forum will focus on the current changes brought about by frontier technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, next-generation biotechnology, and advanced energy systems.

”The main objective is to determine how these innovations can be responsibly deployed to unlock new engines of growth, expand access across emerging markets, invest in skills for a changing workforce, and promote sustainable and equitable development,” he said.

According to him, the vice-president is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of his engagements in Davos.

(NAN)