By Dr. G. Fraser. MFR.
UNGA, New York.
The National Patriots.
New York — As the world gathers at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York from September 22–28, 2025, Nigeria is using its platform to spotlight its domestic reform programme under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: the “Renewed Hope Blueprint.” With a major special side-event planned, national leaders are aiming to show how global partnerships can fuel local prosperity, further bolstering Nigeria’s image abroad and attracting investment.
Key Players & Event Overview
Vice President Kashim Shettima is officially leading Nigeria’s delegation to UNGA 80. He is delivering Nigeria’s national statement, several bilateral meetings, and representing the country at high-profile side events.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at a special side event titled “Global Partnerships, Local Prosperity: Unlocking Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Blueprint for Sustainable Growth.” Governors from Lagos, Ogun, Borno & Akwa Ibom are expected to join panels on investment readiness, diaspora engagement & State reforms, underscoring Nigeria’s diversity and regional opportunities.
Other participants include Ministers of Industry, Trade & Investment; Information & National Orientation; Education; Power; leaders in innovation, foreign affairs, finance including economic inclusion; and representatives from Nigeria’s diaspora and global stakeholder groups.
The side-event is slated for Monday, September 22, 2025, from 4:00 – 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time, held at Nigeria’s Consulate-General in New York, per public announcements.
What is the “Renewed Hope Blueprint”?
The Renewed Hope Agenda is President Tinubu’s policy roadmap for revitalizing Nigeria’s economy, boosting investment, and enhancing human development. Some key levers and priorities under this blueprint include:
Solid minerals, agriculture, power, technology, innovation, and financial inclusion.
Strengthening partnerships—both cross-border and with international stakeholders—to bring investment, expertise, and implementation support.
At the side-event, officials are expected to showcase progress under Tinubu’s reforms, highlight investment opportunities, and make a case for global collaboration toward sustainable growth.
Strategic Importance & Signals
Nigeria’s participation at UNGA 80 serves several strategic purposes:
1. Repositioning Nigeria internationally. With the delegation led by the Vice President and prominent Governors like Uba Sani, the government is projecting confidence in its reform agenda and its readiness to engage globally. Governor Sani has publicly stated Nigeria’s involvement will “further enhance its image as a leading African economy and investment destination.”
2. Investor engagement. Side events like “Investment Day” are being held to showcase priority sectors. According to public statements, Nigeria will present that it has made reforms in sectors like telecommunications, technology, solid minerals, and agriculture.
3. Diplomatic leverage on global issues. Nigeria is using its platform to push for reforms in the global financial architecture (e.g. global taxation), Africa’s representation in the UN Security Council under the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, and reaffirm its role in peacekeeping and regional stability (crises in Gaza, Eastern Congo, Sudan).
Challenges & Points to Watch
Proof of Progress: While the blueprint is bold, observers will be looking for concrete metrics: how much investment has been secured, how many jobs created, and measurable improvements in infrastructure, power, education and standard of living.
Follow-through & Implementation: Announcements are good; but delivery matters. Delays, transparency, and accountability will affect credibility.
Balancing Priorities: Nigeria must ensure that while presenting big national and international promises, no region or sector feels left behind. Inclusivity matters.
Comparative Context
Using side-events and special sessions at UNGA to spotlight national reforms and investment opportunities is a well-worn but effective tool:
Many countries, especially emerging economies, use UNGA to launch or promote strategies to mobilize diaspora investment, foreign direct investment (FDI), and technical partnerships.
For example, Kenya, Ghana, and Ethiopia have in recent years used their UNGA appearances to present national transformation agendas—focusing on green energy, agriculture modernization, digital infrastructure, and diaspora bonds.
Nigeria’s approach with the Renewed Hope Blueprint closely mirrors that strategy: positioning reforms domestically while appealing to international partners for capital, know-how, and cooperation.
Implications for Nigeria
If well communicated and backed by credible progress, the Renewed Hope Agenda could help Nigeria attract new investors, reduce capital flight, and build external confidence.
This side-event also offers an opportunity to amplify Nigeria’s values: accountability, sustainable growth, human capital development, and regional leadership.
Success in the international arena could translate into advantages like improved credit ratings, access to concessional financing, and stronger trade talks.
Conclusion
Nigeria’s presence at UNGA 80 is not just ceremonial—it is a critical opportunity. The “Renewed Hope Blueprint” side-event aims to demonstrate that Nigeria is serious about reform, that it wants global partnerships and local prosperity to go hand in hand.
Governor Uba Sani’s keynote address, Vice President Shettima’s national statement, and the participation of ministers across critical sectors send a message to both Nigerians and the world: this is a government aiming for transformational change.
For the Nigerian public and diaspora watching closely, the test will be whether words at the United Nations translate into visible progress back home: improved energy supply, better roads, more jobs, and a sustainable, inclusive growth path.
Dr. Gloria Fraser MFR, National Patriots
“UNGA 80 is a defining moment for Nigeria,” said Dr. Gloria Fraser MFR, President of the National Patriots. “What excites me is that this delegation is not just Abuja-driven — it is inclusive of Governors and Ministers who are carrying state and sectoral priorities directly to the global stage. For the first time in years, we are seeing Nigeria show up as a coordinated bloc, speaking with one voice but in multiple registers. That is what global partners want to see, and it is what our citizens deserve.”
She added that the Renewed Hope agenda must be sold not only at the national level but also as a state-level and grassroots commitment: “When Kaduna, Cross River, and other states pitch their strengths abroad, it tells the world that Nigeria’s growth story is not one-city or one-region centred. It is national, it is inclusive, and it is sustainable.”
Princess G Adebajo-Fraser MFR. Founder, The National Patriots.
