UN: Nigerian elected 74th president of the General Assembly

The 74th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 74) opens on Tuesday 17 September 2019.

The first day of the high-level General Debate will be on Tuesday, 24 September 2019.

The President-Elect of the 74th session is H.E. Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, of Nigeria, was elected on 4 June 2019.

Professor Tijjani Muhammad-Bande has had an outstanding career as a scholar and diplomat.

As Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, he worked with colleagues from all regions of the world to achieve common objectives.

He served as the Vice-President of the General Assembly during the 71st session.

Going by established principle of geographical rotation and relevant UN resolutions, the Presidency of the 74th session had reached the turn of Africa, hence Mohammad-Bande’s election was widely expected.

The immediate past president – the fourth woman to be elected to the post in the history of the world body – took office on 5 June 2018. She was also the first since woman 2006.

This year, in addition to the general debate, world leaders will participate in five summits or high-level meetings to boost action on climate change and accelerate progress on sustainable development, aimed at securing healthy, peaceful and prosperous lives for all.