PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu will join other world leaders at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA 81, where he is scheduled to address the General Debate in New York on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
News Point Nigeria reports that Tinubu has been listed as the 10th speaker during the morning session on the second day of the high-level General Debate, which will hold from September 22 to September 28 at the United Nations headquarters.
A provisional list of speakers obtained by a correspondent shows that the Nigerian President will deliver Nigeria’s national statement during the morning session, with his address expected between 11:30 a.m. and noon New York time, equivalent to about 4:30 p.m. Nigerian time.
Tinubu will join a line-up of 193 world leaders expected at the global gathering, including more than 150 heads of state and government, as well as over 40 vice presidents, deputy prime ministers, ministers and other senior government officials.
In keeping with long-standing tradition, Brazil’s President, Luiz da Silva, will open the General Debate on September 22, after which United States President Donald Trump, as leader of the host country, will speak.
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly will be presided over by Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh and will have as its theme: “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
The week-long high-level engagement is expected to be a busy diplomatic outing for Tinubu, who will participate in a number of high-level meetings, side events and major summits focusing on climate action, sea-level rise and pandemic preparedness.
The Nigerian leader is also expected to hold a high-level meeting with the outgoing Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, whose two-term tenure ends on December 31, 2026.
Tinubu is equally expected to meet with Nigeria’s Amina Mohammed, the outgoing Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, who has occupied the position since 2017 and remains the African to have held the most senior role at the global body.
Sources at the United Nations, however, told NAN that the speaking order remained provisional and could still be adjusted depending on the attendance of world leaders.
Nigeria has historically enjoyed diplomatic goodwill that often ensures its prominent positioning on either the first or second day of the annual General Debate.
Tinubu personally attended the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in 2023, while Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented him at the 79th and 80th sessions in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
Shettima, who delivered Nigeria’s national statement on both occasions, unusually retained Nigeria’s day-one speaking slots, a development credited to diplomatic manoeuvring by the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations.
The Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has already confirmed that Tinubu will attend the 2026 UN General Assembly.
“The president was able to give us his word. Now, he will come to UNGA this September,” the diplomat said recently.
According to the Nigerian envoy, Tinubu’s participation will provide an important opportunity for Nigeria to showcase to the international community the reforms being implemented by his administration.
Jimoh also said the President would use the UN platform to engage relevant stakeholders on border policing in West Africa, describing the region’s porous borders as a major security challenge.
“So, border policing will be fine. These are the kind of things that the UN is established for,” the ambassador said.
He explained that the Federal Government was already collaborating with the United Nations on a regional border policing initiative and would seek broader international support for the effort during the General Assembly.
The Nigerian permanent representative further disclosed that there could also be a meeting between President Tinubu and United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the global gathering.
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly is scheduled to open on September 8, while its high-level General Debate will run from September 22 to September 28.
The annual gathering brings together heads of state, government leaders, ministers and other top-level government functionaries from across the world to deliberate on major global challenges.
Among the key issues expected to dominate discussions are climate change, sustainable development, international peace and security, alongside other pressing challenges confronting the global community.