President Bola Tinubu will address the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly General Debate among world leaders, on Wednesday, September 23, in New York.
On the second day of the high-level General Debate, which will take place at the UN headquarters from September 22 to September 28, Tinubu is slated to be the tenth speaker during the morning session.
Tinubu will make his remark during the morning session, according to a preliminary list of speakers that the News Agency of Nigeria correspondent was able to secure on Wednesday.
Around 11:30 a.m. and noon New York time (4:30 p.m. Nigerian time), the Nigerian leader will give a speech.
He will be with 193 world leaders, including over 150 heads of state and government and over 40 others, including ministers, vise presidents, deputy prime ministers, and other high-ranking government officials.
According to custom, on September 22, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil will kick off the debate, followed by President Donald Trump of the United States as the host nation.
“Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all” is the topic of UNGA 81, which will be chaired by Bangladesh’s Khalilur Rahman.
Tinubu is anticipated to attend a number of high-level meetings, side events, and significant summits on climate change, sea level rise, and pandemic preparation during the week-long high-level debate.
The departing UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose two-term term ends on December 31, 2026, will meet with the Nigerian leader at a high level.
Tinubu is also anticipated to meet with Nigeria’s Amina Mohammed, the departing UN Deputy Secretary-General, who has been in the most prestigious position held by an African since 2017.
Speaking times, however, were still open to change based on attendance, UN sources told NAN.
In the past, Nigeria has benefited from goodwill, which guaranties significant placement on the first or second day.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu at the 79th and 80th sessions of the UN General Assembly in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Tinubu personally attended the 78th session in 2023.
Due to diplomatic maneuvering by Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Shettima, who delivered Nigeria’s national statement, remarkably kept Nigeria’s day-one speaking slots.
Tinubu’s attendance at the 2026 UNGA has been confirmed by Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN.
The president was able to fulfilll his promise to us. He will now visit UNGA in September, the diplomat reportedly stated.
According to the Nigerian envoy, Tinubu’s involvement would provide Nigeria a chance to present to the world the reforms his administration is carrying out.
Jimoh continued, calling the region’s porous borders a “major security challenge,” and stated that Tinubu would also utilize the UN forum to engage stakeholders on border enforcement in West Africa.
Therefore, border security will be ok. The ambassador stated, “These are the kinds of things that the UN was founded for.”
During the assembly, he stated that the Federal Government was working with the UN on a regional border-policing program and would look for further international support.
Additionally, the Permanent Representative stated that Tinubu and US President Donald Trump might meet outside of the event.
The General Debate will take place from September 22 to September 28, while the 81st session of the UN General Assembly will begin on September 8.
Heads of state, ministers, government officials, and high-level government employees convene annually to discuss global challenges.
These concerns include global peace and security, sustainable development, and climate change. (NAN)
