RismadarVoice Reporters
September 21, 2026
Nigeria is scheduled to deliver its national statement at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, September 24, with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing President Bola Tinubu.
An updated provisional speakers’ schedule places Nigeria fourth in the afternoon session of the General Debate. The session is expected to begin at 3pm New York time, with Shettima scheduled to speak between 4pm and 4:30pm, corresponding to 9pm and 9:30pm Nigerian time.
The development follows Tinubu’s directive for Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.
The Vice President is leading a high-level delegation that includes Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and other senior government officials.
Shettima will outline Nigeria’s positions and priorities on major international issues, including national development, peace and security, economic growth and international cooperation.
He is also expected to participate in high-level meetings on issues such as the Right to Development and climate action, as well as hold bilateral discussions with foreign leaders, international organisations and development partners.
The 81st General Assembly’s General Debate is scheduled for September 22 to 28, 2026, under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
Thursday’s appearance will mark the third consecutive year Shettima has delivered Nigeria’s national statement at the General Debate. He represented Tinubu at the 79th session in 2024 and the 80th session in 2025, while Tinubu personally addressed the 78th session in 2023.
The Nigerian delegation is also expected to attend other high-level engagements during the UNGA week, with the government seeking to deepen international partnerships and advance discussions on economic diplomacy, sustainable development, climate finance and reform of the global financial architecture.
The United Nations General Assembly brings together all 193 member states, each represented equally in the organisation’s principal deliberative and policymaking body.
