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Vice-President Kashim Shettima will represent President Bola Tinubu at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, delivering Nigeria’s national statement for the third consecutive year.
An updated provisional speakers’ schedule obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria placed Nigeria fourth in the afternoon session of the General Debate on September 24.
The session begins at 3pm New York time, with Shettima expected to address the assembly between 4pm and 4:30pm, corresponding to 9pm and 9:30pm Nigerian time.
President Tinubu was initially scheduled as the eighth speaker in the Wednesday morning session before his position was moved from 10th to eighth. However, the President on Sunday directed Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st session of the General Assembly.
The development means Shettima will have represented Tinubu at the UN General Debate in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Tinubu personally addressed the 78th General Assembly in September 2023, shortly after assuming office.
Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice-President, said Shettima would use the national statement to present Nigeria’s positions on major international issues.
The Vice-President will lead a high-level delegation that includes Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and other senior government officials.
Beyond the national statement, Shettima is expected to participate in high-level meetings on issues of strategic importance to Nigeria and Africa. He is also scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with foreign leaders, international organisations and development partners on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
The 81st UN General Debate opens on Tuesday, September 22, and runs through Saturday before concluding on Monday, September 28. The session is being held under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all.”
The high-level week brings together representatives of the 193 UN member states, with Shettima joining heads of state, heads of government and other senior officials for the annual diplomatic gathering in New York.
