By Atoyebi Nike
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to address the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) on Wednesday, September 24, at the UN headquarters in New York.
According to a revised provisional list of speakers, Tinubu will deliver his remarks during the afternoon session, around 8:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. Nigerian time), making him the 17th speaker on day two of the high-level General Debate.
The Nigerian leader will join a lineup of 195 world leaders, including 98 heads of state, 44 heads of government, five vice presidents, four deputy prime ministers, and several ministers and envoys. As tradition dictates, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will open the debate, followed by U.S. President Donald Trump as the host country representative.
Sources at the UN noted that speaking slots are subject to last-minute adjustments depending on attendance, though Nigeria has historically enjoyed goodwill that ensures prominent positioning. In 2024, Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu and unusually retained Nigeria’s day-one slot, credited to diplomatic manoeuvring by Nigeria’s UN mission.
The theme for UNGA 80 is “Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development, and human rights.” The week-long debate will run from September 23 to 29, accompanied by several high-level meetings, including commemorations of the UN’s 80th anniversary, a climate summit, a global dialogue on AI governance, and discussions on Palestine and the two-state solution.
The session also marks a milestone with Annalena Baerbock of Germany inaugurated as the new President of the General Assembly, becoming only the fifth woman in history to hold the position.
