Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to address world leaders at the 81st United Nations General Assembly General Debate in New York on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
The Nigerian President is listed as the 10th speaker in the morning session on the second day of the high-level debate, which will run from September 22 to 28 at the UN headquarters.
According to the provisional speakers’ list obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria, Tinubu is expected to speak between 11:30 a.m. and noon New York time, corresponding to between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Nigerian time.
The UN General Assembly will bring together 193 world leaders, including more than 150 heads of state and government, alongside vice presidents, 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 tradition of having the host-country leader speak second.
The theme of UNGA 81, under the presidency of Bangladesh’s Khalilur Rahman, 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 focusing on issues including climate action, rising sea levels and pandemic preparedness.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, recently confirmed that Tinubu would attend the assembly, saying the President’s participation would provide 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.
The ambassador said Nigeria would also seek international support for regional border-policing efforts, describing porous borders in West Africa as a major security challenge.
“So, border policing will be fine. These are the kind of things that the UN is established for,” he said.
Tinubu is further expected to hold a high-level meeting with outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose second term ends on December 31, 2026. He may also meet UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.
Ibrahim also disclosed that a meeting between Tinubu and Trump could take place on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
The 81st UN General Assembly formally opens on September 8, while its high-level General Debate begins on September 22 and will provide a platform for world leaders to discuss global priorities including climate change, sustainable development, international peace and security.
