By Mardiyyah Abubakar
President Bola Tinubu will address world leaders at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Tinubu is scheduled to be the 10th speaker during the morning session on the second day of the high-level General Debate, which runs from September 22 to 28.
The Nigerian President is expected to speak between 11:30 a.m. and noon New York time, which is between 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Nigerian time.
He will join representatives of 193 countries, including more than 150 heads of state and government.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to open the General Debate on September 22, followed by United States President Donald Trump.
The theme of UNGA 81, to be presided over by Bangladesh’s Khalilur Rahman, is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
Tinubu is expected to participate in several high-level meetings and side events focused on issues including climate action, sea-level rise and pandemic preparedness.
He is also expected to meet outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose tenure ends on December 31, 2026, as well as UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Jimoh Ibrahim, confirmed Tinubu’s attendance and said the President would use the gathering to showcase his administration’s reforms.
Ibrahim also said Tinubu would engage international stakeholders on border policing in West Africa, describing porous borders as a major security challenge.
A possible meeting between Tinubu and Trump could also take place on the sidelines of the assembly.
The 81st UN General Assembly session will officially open on September 8, while the high-level General Debate will run from September 22 to 28.
