Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will now stand in for President Bola Tinubu at the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas, instead of Vice President Kashim Shettima, as previously stated.
The Presidency announced that Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was initially supposed to represent the President, had to change plans because of a technical fault with his aircraft, as advised by the Presidential Air Fleet. This information was revealed in a statement signed Monday evening by Shettima’s Spokesperson, Mr. Stanley Nkwocha.
The statement is called ‘Minister of Foreign Affairs To Now Represent President Tinubu at US-Africa Summit.’
Nkwocha mentioned that the Vice President, who has since returned to Abuja, “will carry on with other national duties.”
The high-profile summit, which will be held at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, will gather political and business leaders from Africa, the United States, and other regions.
Hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa, it consists of high-level discussions, networking opportunities, and plenary sessions.
Among the African leaders expected at the summit are Presidents Joseph Boakai of Liberia; Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi; Joao Lourenço Angola; Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi of the Republic of Botswana; José Maria Neves of Cabo Verde and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Nthomeng Majara.
The US-Africa Business Summit aims to promote economic cooperation and examine investment possibilities between the United States and African countries.
In addition to the summit plenary, the Foreign Minister is set to speak at the Roundtable on African Infrastructure Investment with a focus on impact and returns.
He is also scheduled to speak on a high-level panel about agribusiness, emphasizing the transition “from food insecurity to thriving agribusinesses”.
Additionally, Tuggar will participate in a plenary session on Navigating Africa’s Energy Future and lead a session dedicated to promoting the ‘invest in Nigeria’ initiative.
He is also expected to participate in other meetings and activities on the sidelines of the summit, according to the statement.
Tuggar is anticipated to return to the country after completing his engagements in the US.
