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President Bola Tinubu has confirmed he will attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, ending a two-year absence from the world’s most prominent diplomatic gathering, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN said on Wednesday.
Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, who also chairs the UN Budget Committee, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after meeting with Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
“The President has generously agreed to attend the UNGA meeting of the United Nations,” Ibrahim said.
“He has a speech to give to the whole world about his reform success in Nigeria, and that has been slated for September. So Nigeria will be effectively in UNGA.”
He said Tinubu’s address was scheduled for around 10:45 a.m. New York time, approximately 2:00 p.m. Nigerian time, a schedule he said would enable Nigerians to watch the address live.
In addition to the main address, the president has agreed to attend selected side events focused on critical domestic priorities, including power generation, education, and hospital management.
Responding to questions on a potential encounter with United States President Donald Trump, Ibrahim said Tinubu would be seated “very, very close” to Trump in the front row of the General Assembly Hall.
“Well, I won’t be able to tell you that, but I can tell you clearly that President Tinubu will be sitting very, very close to Donald Trump in the front row of the United Nations General Assembly. Don’t ask me how and how that was arranged, but he will be sitting,” Ibrahim said.
A source familiar with the seating arrangements told Punch that the proximity could lead to a chance meeting between the two leaders, who have not met publicly before.
Tinubu attended the 78th UNGA in September 2023 but delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation at the 79th and 80th sessions.
