TINUBU TO ADDRESS WORLD LEADERS AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON SEPTEMBER 23

President Bola Tinubu is set to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he will address world leaders on September 23.

Tinubu is expected to speak around 11:30 a.m. to noon New York time, which is about 4:30 p.m. Nigerian time. He will be the 10th speaker during the morning session on the second day of the high-level General Debate.

The UN General Assembly will bring together leaders and senior government officials from around the world to discuss major global issues, including climate change, sustainable development, international security and other challenges facing the international community.

This year’s theme is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”

Tinubu is also expected to participate in several high-level meetings and side events focused on climate action, rising sea levels and pandemic preparedness.

According to Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, the President’s attendance will give Nigeria an opportunity to showcase the reforms being carried out by his administration and engage international partners on issues affecting the country.

One of the major issues Nigeria is expected to push at the assembly is border security in West Africa. Ibrahim described the region’s porous borders as a major security challenge and said Nigeria would seek greater international support for a regional border-policing initiative.

Tinubu may also meet with United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

The Nigerian President is scheduled to meet outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose tenure ends on December 31, 2026. He is also expected to meet Nigeria’s Amina Mohammed, the outgoing UN Deputy Secretary-General.

Tinubu attended the UN General Assembly in person in 2023, while Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the 2024 and 2025 sessions.

With his return to the UN podium this year, attention will be on the issues Tinubu raises and how he presents Nigeria’s economic reforms, security concerns and priorities to the international community.