By SALISU SANI-IDRIS

Abuja, Jan. 16, 2026 (NAN) 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.

Mr 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.

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

He said that the Vice-President’s attendance at the inauguration of Doumbouya is a strategic move for regional leadership, economic partnership, and global economic integration under 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 export to Guinea, particularly manufactured goods and agricultural products, increasing to 3.29 million dollars. “he said.

Nkwocha said that from Guinea, 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 hold from Jan.19 to Jan. 23.

He said that 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.

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 that key deliberations at the forum will focus on the current changes brought about by frontier technologies like 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)

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