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President Bola Tinubu will address world leaders at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York on Wednesday, September 23.
Tinubu is scheduled to speak as the 10th speaker during the morning session on the second day of the high-level General Debate, which will run from September 22 to 28 at the UN headquarters.
A provisional list of speakers obtained by the newsmen indicates that the President is expected to deliver his address between 11:30am and noon New York time, or 4:30pm Nigerian time.
He will join representatives of the 193 UN member states, including more than 150 heads of state and government, as well as vice-presidents, deputy prime ministers, ministers and other senior officials.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to open the General Debate on September 22, followed by United States President Donald Trump, in line with the established protocol.
The theme for UNGA 81, to be presided over by Bangladesh’s Khalilur Rahman, is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
Tinubu’s attendance is expected to include a series of high-level engagements, side events and summits focusing on climate action, sea-level rise, pandemic preparedness and other global challenges.
The President is also expected to meet outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose second term ends on December 31, 2026.
He may also meet UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, who is completing her tenure after serving in the position since 2017.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, confirmed Tinubu’s attendance and said the President’s participation would give Nigeria an opportunity to present his administration’s reforms to the international community.
“The president was able to give us his word. Now, he will come to UNGA this September,” Ibrahim said.
He added that Tinubu would use the gathering to engage international stakeholders on border policing in West Africa, describing the region’s porous borders as a “major security challenge”.
“So, border policing will be fine. These are the kind of things that the UN is established for,” the ambassador said, adding that Nigeria was working with the UN on a regional border-policing initiative.
Ibrahim also disclosed that Tinubu could meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
The 81st session will open on September 8, while the high-level General Debate will take place from September 22 to 28.
