President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria is scheduled to speak at the 80th Session of the high-level General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, September 24.
A revised provisional list of speakers, obtained by a correspondent from the News Agency of Nigeria at the UN, indicates that Tinubu will take the stage on the second day of the proceedings.
His address to fellow world leaders is planned for the afternoon session, slated for approximately 8:30 PM local time (around 2:30 PM Nigerian time).
According to the provisional agenda, Tinubu will be the 17th leader to address the assembly on that day, joining a gathering of 195 global figures, which includes 98 heads of state, five vice presidents, 44 heads of government, and four deputy prime ministers. Additionally, there will be 37 ministers, one crown prince, and four delegation chairs participating in the debate.
Brazil’s President Luiz da Silva will kick off the session as the first speaker, in keeping with tradition, followed by U.S. President Donald Trump, the customary second speaker due to the host country’s role.
UN sources informed Elanza News that the speaker list is subject to change, and Tinubu’s slot may be adjusted if he is unable to attend the debate in person.
UN protocol dictates that heads of state speak on the first two days, while vice presidents take the stage starting on the third day. In 2024, Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu, addressing the assembly on the first day and preserving Tinubu’s speaking position—an unusual occurrence noted by diplomats, attributed to Nigeria’s goodwill and adept diplomatic efforts at the UN.
Movses Abelian, Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management, noted that the current revised list reflects adjustments in representation levels and ongoing exchanges among Member States. He emphasized that updates will continue until the General Debate commences.
The theme for the 80th session’s general debate is “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development, and Human Rights.”
The 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80) commenced on September 9, with the inauguration of the new president, Annalena Baerbock from Germany. Baerbock urged member states to collaborate in tackling global challenges, including war, poverty, and climate change, while taking her oath on the original 1945 Charter and committing to leadership characterized by courage and inclusivity.
As a former Foreign Minister, Baerbock becomes only the fifth woman to preside over the General Assembly, receiving the ceremonial gavel from her predecessor, Philémon Yang of Cameroon.
The high-level General Debate will occur from September 23 to September 29, coinciding with a week of significant gatherings, including the High-level Meeting commemorating the UN’s 80th anniversary, the SDG Moment, and the High-level Meeting on the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women. Other events will cover topics like the Conference on Palestine and the Two-State Solution, the Climate Summit, and the High-Level Meeting to Launch the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, among others.
(NAN)
