Tinubu UN General Assembly Speech urges Security Council reform, digital equity, debt relief, and fair access to Africa’s strategic resources.
Tinubu UN General Assembly Speech took centre stage at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly as Nigeria, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made an assertive case for global reforms to reflect the realities of today’s world.
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Speaking on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Shettima delivered a powerful address on Wednesday, calling for structural changes at the United Nations—most notably Nigeria’s inclusion as a permanent member of the Security Council.
In a speech rich in conviction and clarity, Tinubu urged the UN to embrace “real change, change that works, and change that is seen to work”, warning that the world’s trust in multilateral institutions is waning.
The Vice President said Nigeria’s population of over 236 million and its history of peacekeeping missions justify its rightful place at the highest levels of global decision-making.
“This is a demand for fairness, for representation, and for reform,” he said.
A key highlight of the Tinubu UN General Assembly Speech was a call for equitable investment in countries rich in strategic minerals.
Shettima argued that African nations, including Nigeria, must not remain mere exporters of raw materials.
He emphasised the importance of local processing, value addition, and job creation to foster stability and prosperity.
He said: “When we export raw materials, tension, inequality and instability fester. Fair investment and local value chains are the path to peace.”
The speech also pushed for urgent sovereign debt relief and a reformed international financial architecture.
Shettima proposed a “binding mechanism” akin to an International Court of Justice for money to help developing countries escape economic dependency.
On climate, he tied environmental resilience directly to global security, advocating for smarter use of climate funds in housing, education, and technology.
Nigeria, he said, would collaborate more closely with the UN to align investments with local needs.
Addressing the digital divide, Tinubu’s position was unequivocal: “AI must stand for Africa Included.”
He proposed a collaborative initiative to close the gap and prevent emerging technologies from reinforcing global inequality.
Closing the Tinubu UN General Assembly Speech, Shettima affirmed Nigeria’s unshakable commitment to peace, multilateral cooperation, and the defence of human rights.
“None of us is safe until all of us are safe,” he said, in what many see as a timely reminder of the interdependence of nations in an increasingly polarised world.
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With this address, Nigeria has positioned itself not just as a participant but as a principled leader in shaping a fairer, more responsive international system.
