Nigeria will address the 81st United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, September 24, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima scheduled to deliver the country’s national statement for the third consecutive year.
An updated provisional speakers’ schedule obtained by the NAN places Nigeria fourth in the afternoon session of the General Debate on Thursday.
The afternoon session is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. New York time and end at 9 p.m., with Shettima expected to speak between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., corresponding to 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Nigerian time.
President Bola Tinubu was initially scheduled as the eighth speaker in Wednesday morning’s session after moving up from the 10th position on the provisional list.
Under UN protocol, presidents are scheduled to deliver their national statements ahead of vice-presidents, prime ministers and ministers during the high-level General Debate.
Tinubu, on Sunday, directed Shettima to once again lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Shettima is among 73 Heads of State, 45 Heads of Government, 49 ministers, 11 vice-presidents and one crown prince participating in the high-level week of the General Assembly.
Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President, said Shettima would deliver Nigeria’s national statement and outline the country’s positions on major international issues.
Thursday’s appearance will mark the third consecutive General Assembly at which Shettima will represent Tinubu during the General Debate.
He represented the President at the 79th Session in 2024 and again delivered Nigeria’s national statement at the 80th Session in 2025.
Tinubu personally addressed the 78th Session of the General Assembly in September 2023, a few months after assuming office as President.
The Presidency said Shettima would lead a high-level delegation comprising Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and other senior government officials.
In addition to delivering Nigeria’s national statement, Shettima is expected to participate in high-level meetings on issues of strategic importance to Nigeria and Africa.
He is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with foreign leaders, international organisations and development partners on the sidelines of the Assembly.
The 81st UN General Debate opens on Tuesday, September 22, and will continue through Saturday before concluding on Monday, September 28.
The annual General Debate provides Heads of State, Heads of Government and other senior representatives with an opportunity to present their countries’ priorities and positions to the international community.
The theme of the 81st Session is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all.”
The session is being presided over by Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh, President of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly.
The General Assembly comprises all 193 UN Member States, with each country having equal representation in the UN’s principal deliberative and policymaking body.
