The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) and partner organisations are seeking an audience with President Bola Tinubu on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The Nigerian president arrived in New York on Sunday to attend the High-Level meetings of the 78th session of UNGA.

The event will open on Monday with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) summit.

In a letter on behalf of 20 Nigerian organisations, James Francis, an OAN board member, said the group would like Tinubu to have a town hall meeting with U.S.-based Nigerians.

“We welcome you on your first official trip to the U.S. as the president of our nation and hope you will take advantage of our invitation to engage with Nigerians in the U.S. OAN and its partner organisations specifically welcome you to the U.S. on your maiden High-Level meetings of the 78th session, as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” said the letter. “We also wish to assure you of the support of Nigerians in the U.S.”

The letter noted that Nigerians “are part of the brain thrust of many successful large corporations and industries in the U.S., UK, Canada, and other parts of the world” and that the “diaspora is beyond the billions of dollars in annual remittances to Nigeria.”

The groups promised to support Mr Tinubu’s government.

“Indeed, the Nigerian diasporas are available complementary talents that can contribute immensely to your administration, especially in critical areas that require international collaborations and relationships, or where there are needs to build Nigerian standards to internationally-reputable standards,” stated the letter.

The U.S.-based Nigerians said they were “very hopeful” that Mr Tinubu’s government would “bring the much-needed relief to Nigerians.”

“We are willing to support you, Mr President, to make your courageous and unwavering dream and quest for a better Nigeria a reality,” the letter said.

At the UNGA, the Nigerian president will deliver his inaugural national statement to the world leaders on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he will participate in the high-level dialogue on financing for development. He will attend a high-level meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.

On Thursday, Mr Tinubu will participate in the UN secretary general’s Climate Ambition Summit and later attend a high-level meeting on Universal Health Coverage and join another high-level panel on reform of the global financial architecture.

On Friday, he will attend the high-level meeting on the fight against tuberculosis.

Mr Tinubu is scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings with world leaders, including the presidents of the European Union Commission, Brazil and South Africa, among others.

(NAN)