President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria is scheduled to address world leaders at the 80th Session of the high-level General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, September 24.
A revised provisional list of speakers obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from UN headquarters indicates that Tinubu will speak on the second day of the event.
The Nigerian leader is expected to deliver his remarks during the afternoon session, around 8:30 pm local time (2:30 pm Nigerian time).
According to the list, Tinubu will be the 17th world leader to speak on the second day, joining a gathering of 195 world 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 delegation chairs.
The President of Brazil, Luiz da Silva, will open the debate, followed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who traditionally speaks second as host country.
Sources at the UN told NAN that the list is still being updated, and Tinubu’s speaking slot may change if he does not attend in person.
According to UN traditions, heads of state speak on the first and second day, while vice presidents speak from the third day.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu in 2024 and spoke on the first day, maintaining Tinubu’s slot, a rare occurrence credited to Nigeria’s strong international goodwill and the diplomatic efforts of its UN mission.
Movses Abelian, Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management, said the current “revised list reflects changes in the level of representation (upgrades and downgrades) and reflects exchanges among Member States.”
“Please note that this list will continue to be updated until the start of the General Debate as changes are communicated by Member States,” Abelian added.
The theme of the 80th session of the General Assembly is “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development, and human rights.”
NAN reports that UNGA 80 opened on Tuesday, September 9, with the inauguration of a new president, Annalena Baerbock of Germany.
Baerbock called on member states to unite in addressing global crises, from war and poverty to climate change, taking her oath on the original 1945 Charter and pledging to lead with courage and inclusiveness.
A former Foreign Minister of Germany, Baerbock becomes only the fifth woman in history to preside over the General Assembly.
She accepted the Assembly’s ornate gavel from her predecessor, Philémon Yang of Cameroon.
The high-level General Debate will run from September 23 to September 29, while the high-level week, which includes conferences and other meetings, will begin on September 22 and conclude on September 30.