President Bola Tinubu will address world leaders at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in New York on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
According to a revised provisional list of speakers from the UN headquarters, Tinubu is scheduled to speak during the afternoon session at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. Nigerian time). He is listed as the 17th speaker on the second day of the high-level general debate.
The debate will bring together 195 leaders, including 98 heads of state, five vice presidents, 44 heads of government, and four deputy prime ministers. Other participants include 37 ministers, one crown prince, and four heads of delegations. As tradition demands, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will open the debate, followed by U.S. President Donald Trump, representing the host country.
UN officials noted that the speaker list may change depending on attendance, adding that Tinubu’s speaking slot could shift if he is unable to appear in person. Diplomatic sources also pointed out that Nigeria’s participation at this level is notable. In 2024, Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu and spoke on the first day—an unusual arrangement, as vice presidents typically speak on the third day. This year’s listing, they said, underscores Nigeria’s growing diplomatic presence within the UN.
Movses Abelian, UN Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management, explained that the revised list reflects changes in country representation and will be updated continuously until the debate begins.
The 80th General Assembly, themed “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development, and Human Rights,” officially opened on September 9. Annalena Baerbock of Germany, a former foreign minister and the fifth woman to preside over the Assembly, was inaugurated as president. Taking her oath on the original 1945 UN Charter, Baerbock urged member states to unite in tackling global challenges such as war, poverty, and climate change. She succeeded Philémon Yang of Cameroon.
The high-level debate will run from September 23 to 29, while UNGA’s high-level week extends from September 22 to 30. Key events will include the High-Level Meeting to mark the UN’s 80th Anniversary, the SDG Moment, a conference on Palestine and the Two-State Solution, the Climate Summit, the High-Level Meeting on the 30th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, and the launch of a Global Dialogue on AI Governance.
Tinubu’s address will reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to global cooperation and highlight the nation’s perspectives on peace, development, human rights, and multilateralism.
