President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to address world leaders at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
According to the provisional programme for the high level General Debate, Tinubu is expected to be the 10th speaker during the morning session on the second day of the debate, which runs from September 22 to 28 at the UN headquarters.
The Nigerian president is expected to speak between 11:30am and noon New York time, which corresponds to about 4:30pm to 5pm Nigerian time.
Tinubu will join representatives of the 193 UN member states at the gathering, including more than 150 heads of state and government, alongside vice presidents, deputy prime ministers, ministers and other senior officials.
The General Debate will officially open on September 22, with Brazil traditionally taking the first speaking slot, followed by the president of the United States as leader of the host country.
The theme for this year’s assembly is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.” The session will be presided over by Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh.
Tinubu is expected to have a busy schedule during the week, with several high level meetings, side events and major discussions focusing on issues such as climate action, rising sea levels and pandemic preparedness.
He is also expected to meet with outgoing UN Secretary General António Guterres, whose second term in office ends on December 31, 2026.
The Nigerian president may also hold talks with Nigeria’s Amina Mohammed, the outgoing UN Deputy Secretary General who has occupied the position since 2017.
Although the provisional schedule places Tinubu among the early speakers, UN officials noted that speaking arrangements could still change depending on the attendance of world leaders.
Nigeria has traditionally secured prominent speaking positions during the opening days of the General Debate, reflecting its long standing diplomatic influence within the organisation.
Tinubu attended the 78th UN General Assembly in person in 2023, while Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the 79th and 80th sessions in 2024 and 2025.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has confirmed that Tinubu will attend this year’s gathering.
The ambassador said the president’s participation would give Nigeria an opportunity to present the reforms being pursued by his administration and engage the international community on issues of importance to the country and the region.
Ibrahim also highlighted border policing in West Africa as one of the issues Nigeria intends to raise, describing the region’s porous borders as a major security concern.
According to him, Nigeria is working with the UN on a regional border policing initiative and hopes to secure wider international backing for the effort during the General Assembly.
There is also the possibility of a meeting between Tinubu and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the gathering, although no such meeting has been confirmed.
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly will officially open on September 8, while the high level General Debate is scheduled for September 22 to 28.
The annual gathering provides a platform for world leaders and senior government officials to discuss major global concerns, including climate change, sustainable development, international peace and security.
Zoyols News reports that Tinubu’s expected appearance will mark his return to the UN General Assembly after two years in which Nigeria was represented by the vice president.
