President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, on Sunday departed Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, for Europe as part of his end-of-year recess, ahead of a scheduled official visit to Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.
The President is expected to participate in the 2026 edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit, a globally recognized forum focused on environmental responsibility and economic resilience. The summit is scheduled to take place in early January following a formal invitation extended by the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and leader of the Gulf nation.
Okay News reports that the summit is a weeklong international gathering that convenes leaders from government institutions, multinational businesses, financial organizations, and civil society groups from across the world to advance high-level discussions on sustainable development and climate-conscious economic growth.
According to a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the Nigerian President on Information and Strategy, the 2026 edition of the summit will be held under the theme, “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go.” The theme emphasizes the integration of innovation, financial systems, and human capital as interconnected drivers of long-term sustainable development.
The presidential statement further explained that the summit will focus on strengthening collaboration between emerging technologies, public and private sector financing, and inclusive policy frameworks aimed at delivering sustainable growth outcomes for both developed and developing economies.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria shortly after the conclusion of the summit and the completion of his official engagements in Abu Dhabi.
The foreign trip comes only days after the President arrived in Lagos to spend the end-of-year holidays, following a series of official working visits to Borno State and Bauchi State, both located in northeastern Nigeria.
Upon his arrival in Lagos earlier in the week, President Tinubu was received at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, alongside senior government officials and leaders of the All Progressives Congress, Nigeria’s ruling political party.
Prior to his Lagos stay, the President had departed Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital territory, on a three-state tour. During the tour, he visited Borno State, where he commissioned several infrastructure and development projects executed by the administration of Babagana Umara Zulum, the Governor of Borno State, in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The projects were part of ongoing efforts to rebuild and strengthen governance, security, and social infrastructure in regions affected by insurgency and humanitarian challenges.
President Tinubu’s participation in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit is expected to reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to global sustainability discussions and strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with the United Arab Emirates and the wider international community.
