President Bola Tinubu will join world leaders in New York next month as the United Nations convenes its 81st General Assembly, with Nigeria expected to use the gathering to advance key national and regional interests.
Tinubu is scheduled to address the high-level General Debate on September 23, where he will speak as the 10th speaker during the morning session. According to the provisional programme, the President’s address is expected between 11:30 a.m. and noon New York time, or 4:30 p.m. Nigerian time.
The General Debate, which runs from September 22 to 28, will bring together representatives of all 193 UN member states, including heads of state and government.
The session will be held under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all”. Tinubu is expected to highlight Nigeria’s priorities and engage international stakeholders on issues affecting the country and the wider West African region.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, said the President’s participation would provide an opportunity to showcase his administration’s reforms to the international community.
Ibrahim said border policing in West Africa would also be among the issues Nigeria is expected to raise, describing the region’s porous borders as a major security challenge. He added that Tinubu could meet United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly opens on September 8, while the high-level General Debate begins on September 22.
