President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to address the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) General Debate on Wednesday, September 23, in New York.
According to a provisional list of speakers, the Nigerian leader will take the podium as the 10th speaker during the morning session around 11:30 a.m. local time (4:30 p.m. Nigeria time).
He joins a prominent global lineup of 193 world leaders, with Brazil opening the high-level debate on September 22, followed by host country president, Donald Trump.
The week-long high-level assembly, themed “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all” and presided over by Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh, will be a busy period for President Tinubu.
Beyond his national statement, he is expected to participate in major summits concerning climate action, sea-level rise, and pandemic preparedness.
His itinerary also features high-level bilateral meetings with outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres and outgoing UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.
Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, confirmed the president’s attendance, noting that it provides a vital platform to showcase the federal administration’s ongoing economic reforms.
Furthermore, Tinubu intends to leverage the global stage to rally broader international backing for regional security initiatives.
Specifically, he will engage stakeholders on collaborative frameworks to tackle the security challenge posed by porous borders across West Africa.
The diplomatic maneuvering by Nigeria’s Permanent Mission has historically secured strong scheduling positions for the country on the initial days of the debate.
While Vice-President Kashim Shettima ably represented Nigeria at the 79th and 80th sessions, President Tinubu’s return to the UNGA podium marks his first in-person appearance since the 78th session in 2023.
Sources indicate that additional high-level sideline talks, including a potential meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, are also being explored.
The broader UNGA 81 gathering officially opened on September 8, with the high-level general debates running through September 28.
World leaders will continue to deliberate on pressing international matters, including sustainable development, international peace, and climate resilience.
As the assembly progresses, the focus remains on fostering cooperation to navigate mounting global transformations.
