Vice President Kashim Shettima has been mandated by President Bola Tinubu to lead Nigeria's delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Shettima will deliver Nigeria's national statement on Thursday, September 24, representing President Tinubu at the high-level General Debate. Nigeria is scheduled as the fourth speaker in Thursday afternoon's session, with Shettima expected to address the General Assembly between 4 pm and 4:30 pm New York time.
This will be Shettima's third consecutive representation of President Tinubu at the UN General Debate, after delivering Nigeria's national statement at the 79th and 80th sessions in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Tinubu personally addressed the 78th Session of the General Assembly in September 2023, a few months after assuming office as President. Shettima is leading a high-level Nigerian delegation that includes Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers, and other senior government officials.
The Vice-President's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, said Shettima would deliver Nigeria's national statement and present the country's positions on major international issues. The delegation will participate in high-level meetings and engagements on issues of strategic importance to Nigeria and Africa. Shettima is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with foreign leaders, representatives of international organisations, and development partners on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
The presence of Fubara in the delegation places Rivers State among the sub-national governments represented at the high-level diplomatic gathering, while Lawal's participation adds another state-level representation to the Nigerian team. Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has said the country would be adequately represented at the gathering despite Tinubu's absence.
The theme of the 81st Session is "Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all." The UN said the theme reflects the need to strengthen international cooperation and address global challenges through collective action. The General Debate brings together senior representatives of member states to outline national positions and priorities.
The 81st Session of the UN General Assembly is being presided over by Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh, President of the UN General Assembly. The UN General Assembly comprises all 193 UN Member States and serves as the organisation's principal deliberative and policymaking body, with each member state represented in the Assembly.
The 2026 high-level week features the General Debate alongside several high-level meetings addressing major international issues. The UN's official programme shows that the General Debate runs from September 22 to 26 and resumes on September 28. Other high-level meetings during the week include discussions on the right to development, climate action, and a just transition, sea-level rise, and other pressing global issues.
Key points
- Vice President Kashim Shettima to deliver Nigeria's national statement at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, September 24.
- This will be Shettima's third consecutive representation of President Tinubu at the UN General Debate.
- The theme of the 81st Session is "Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all."
