PBAT Departs Abuja For 78th UNGA In New York 

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday departed Abuja for New York to participate in the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

In a statement, Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity says this will be the President’s first UNGA meeting since he was sworn in as president in May.

The theme of the UNGA is: “Rebuilding trust and Reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.”

According to the statement “On September 19, the first day of the High-Level General Debate of the 78th UNGA Session, President Tinubu will deliver his inaugural National Statement.

Before engaging in the General Debate, the President will join other world leaders to participate in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (UN 2023 Summit on SDGs).”

It says President Tinubu’s address will encompass several issues, such as sustainable development, climate change, global cooperation, and the imperative to address inequalities and global humanitarian crises.

“Additionally, President Tinubu is slated to participate in the High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development; High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response; UN Secretary General’s Climate Ambition Summit; High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage; High-Level Panel on Reform of the Global Financial Architecture, amongst others.

In New York, President Tinubu is also scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings with world leaders, including the Presidents of the European Union Commission, Brazil, and South Africa, amongst others.”

The statement adds that the President will also advance his economic development agenda for aggressive investment attraction in meetings with the global leadership of transnational firms, such as Microsoft, Meta Technologies, Exxon Mobil, General Electric, and others.

“Furthermore, on the margins of UNGA, President Tinubu will detail emerging cross-sectoral investment opportunities in Nigeria in his address to American business leaders at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

It is noteworthy that while engaging with officials at the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) Headquarters in New York City, the Nigerian leader will have the honour of conducting the NASDAQ closing ceremony during its trading session, making President Tinubu the first African President to do this.

The President will also address the Nigerian SMEs Business Summit, where he will seek to highlight the increasingly important role of Nigerian enterprises in global trade.”

The President will be accompanied by Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Uba Sani of Kaduna State and AbdulRahman AbdulRazak of Kwara State.

Also traveling with the President are the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and Coordinating Minister of the Economy & Finance, Mr. Wale Edun among others.