Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu will address the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today (Tuesday) on issues bordering on tackling climate change, illicit financial flows, and asset return to the country as part of efforts at encouraging stronger and more robust international cooperation.
Tinubu, who is already in New York, United States, for the Assembly, will also highlight Nigeria’s efforts at attaining the Strategic Development Goals (SDGs) as well as ensuring international peace and security, among others, according to a statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, on Monday.
The statement explained that the High-Level segment of the 78th UNGA will commence Tuesday, 19 September 2023, with the General Debate, during which Heads of State will take their turns to address the Assembly.
The General Debate, convened by the General Assembly (GA), is taking place this year under the Presidency of Mr. Dennis Francis of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
“The direction of the General Debate will be anchored on the theme of the 78th Session, which is ‘Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) towards Peace, Prosperity, Progress, and Solidarity for all’,” the statement said.
“As the practice is, member states will have the opportunity to share their perspectives on the theme and present their national positions on each of the thematic items, which make up the overriding theme,” it said.
The statement further said in addition to the General Debate, which will hold from Tuesday, 19th to Tuesday, 26th September 2023, Nigeria was expected to demonstrate leadership while participating in the various meetings scheduled for the High-Level week.
These include Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Summit of the Future, convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Monday, 18 September 2023, as well as High-Level Political Forum on SDGs convened by the General Assembly (GA) on Monday, 18 September 2023.
Others are “Climate Ambition Summit convened by the secretary-general of the United Nations and scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 20th September 2023; High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 20th September 2023.
“High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development, scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 20th September, 2023; High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, scheduled to hold on Thursday, 21st September, 2023.
“High-Level Meeting on the Fight against Tuberculosis, scheduled for Friday, 22nd September, 2023; and High-Level Meeting to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, scheduled to hold on Tuesday, September 26, 2023.”
The statement said President Tinubu’s participation at the 78th UNGA, being his first, will undoubtedly enhance Nigeria’s visibility and elicit tremendous goodwill that will help foster closer partnerships with other world leaders and engender better cooperation with development partners.
