President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to address world leaders at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, September 24, according to the revised provisional speaker list obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria.
The Nigerian President is set to deliver his remarks during the afternoon session at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time, which corresponds to 2:30 p.m. Nigerian time. Tinubu will be the 17th speaker on the second day of the general debate, joining an assembly of 195 world leaders that includes 98 heads of state, 44 heads of government, five vice presidents, and other senior government officials.
Following established UN protocol, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will open the general debate, with United States President Donald Trump speaking second as the representative of the host nation.
However, UN officials have indicated that Tinubu’s speaking slot could be subject to change if he does not attend the session in person. Nigerian diplomatic sources are reportedly working to ensure the President maintains his assigned position on the speaker list.
The arrangement recalls last year’s session when Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria in Tinubu’s absence but unusually retained the speaking slot originally allocated for the opening day. This accommodation was attributed to Nigeria’s strong diplomatic relationships within the UN system.
UN Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management Movses Abelian explained that the updated speaker list reflects ongoing adjustments in representation levels, including upgrades and downgrades, as well as scheduling exchanges among member states. He emphasized that the list will continue to undergo revisions until the commencement of the general debate.
The high-level week at the United Nations will span from September 22 through September 30, featuring not only the general debate but also several significant conferences and meetings. These include the High-level Meeting to Commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations and the Sustainable Development Goals Moment.
Additional scheduled events include the High-level Meeting on the 30th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Conference on Palestine and the Two-State Solution, the Climate Summit, and the High-Level Meeting to Launch the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance.
The gathering represents one of the year’s most significant diplomatic events, bringing together world leaders to address pressing global challenges and coordinate international responses to various crises affecting the international community.
Nigeria’s participation in the general debate provides an opportunity for President Tinubu to present the country’s positions on key international issues while engaging with other world leaders on matters of mutual concern.
