President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the Presidency has announced.

The development ends weeks of uncertainty over whether Tinubu would personally attend the annual gathering of world leaders.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Shettima will head a high-level Nigerian delegation comprising Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and other senior government officials.

The 81st UN General Assembly’s high-level week is taking place in New York, with the General Debate scheduled from September 22 to 28, 2026. The official United Nations programme lists the session’s theme as “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”

Shettima to Deliver Nigeria’s National Statement

At the General Debate, Shettima is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement, outlining the country’s positions and priorities on issues affecting national development, peace and security, economic growth and international cooperation.

The Vice President is also scheduled to participate in several high-level meetings during the UNGA week, including discussions on the Right to Development, climate action and other issues of strategic importance to Nigeria and the African continent.

He is further expected to participate in the traditional reception for heads of delegation and hold bilateral meetings with foreign leaders, international organisations and development partners on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

The Presidency said the engagements are expected to provide Nigeria with opportunities to advance its diplomatic and economic interests, including strategic partnerships, sustainable development, climate finance and discussions around reforms to the global financial architecture.

Tinubu’s absence from the UNGA comes after he departed Abuja on August 30, 2026, for a three-week vacation in Europe.

The State House had announced that London would be the President’s first destination and said he was expected to return to Nigeria after the working vacation to resume preparations for the January 2027 election.

The President’s decision not to attend the UN gathering follows earlier expectations that he would personally participate. Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, had said in July that Tinubu had agreed to attend the 81st UNGA.

Shettima has previously represented Tinubu at the 79th and 80th sessions of the UN General Assembly in 2024 and 2025 respectively.

The Vice President’s participation therefore places him at the head of Nigeria’s delegation for a third consecutive UNGA session.

Key Issues on UNGA Agenda

The 81st UNGA high-level week will bring world leaders together for discussions on several major international issues.

According to the United Nations, the programme includes high-level meetings on climate action and just transition, the Right to Development, sea-level rise, pandemic prevention and preparedness, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and nuclear disarmament.

For Nigeria, the gathering is expected to provide an avenue for diplomatic engagements on security, development, investment, climate financing, international cooperation and other issues affecting the country and the wider African continent.

With Shettima representing the President, Nigeria will nevertheless maintain a high-level presence at the annual UN gathering, where the Vice President is expected to present the country’s priorities and engage international partners.