President Bola Tinubu will address world leaders at the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
His speech will spotlight Nigeria’s stance on peace, development, climate action, and Africa’s role in global affairs.
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to address world leaders at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) during the high-level General Debate in New York on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
According to a revised provisional list of speakers obtained from the UN headquarters, Tinubu is slated to speak on the second day of the debate during the afternoon session, around 8:30 pm local time (2:30 pm Nigerian time). He will be the 17th speaker of the day.
The debate will bring together 195 leaders, including 98 heads of state, five vice presidents, 44 heads of government, four deputy prime ministers, 37 ministers, one crown prince, and four chairs of delegation.
As tradition dictates, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will open the session, followed by the host country’s leader, U.S. President Donald Trump.
UN officials noted that Tinubu’s speaking slot could still change if adjustments are made to the schedule or if he is unable to attend in person.
In 2024, Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu and spoke on the first day of the debate, a slot usually reserved for heads of state. Diplomats credited the rare exception to Nigeria’s substantial goodwill within the international community and the skillful maneuvering of its UN representatives.
The theme of this year’s debate is: “Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development, and human rights.”
The 80th session of the UNGA officially opened on September 9, 2025, with Annalena Baerbock of Germany inaugurated as the new Assembly President. Baerbock, a former German Foreign Minister, becomes only the fifth woman in history to preside over the General Assembly.
She pledged to lead with courage and inclusiveness, calling on member states to unite against global challenges such as war, poverty, and climate change.
The high-level week will run from September 22 to September 30, featuring not only the General Debate but also several special meetings, including:
- The High-Level Meeting to mark the UN’s 80th Anniversary.
- The SDG Moment.
- 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.
- The Global Dialogue on AI Governance launch.
Tinubu’s address will provide Nigeria with an opportunity to reaffirm its position on global peace, sustainable development, climate action, and Africa’s role in shaping the multilateral agenda.
