President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the United Nations (UN) to urgently reform its structures and operations or risk becoming irrelevant in today’s world. Speaking during a high-level session, Tinubu stressed that the UN, created 79 years ago, must evolve to meet modern challenges such as insecurity, poverty, inequality, climate change, and global conflicts. He noted that the inability of the UN to respond effectively to emerging realities has left many nations, especially in Africa, feeling excluded from decision-making.

Tinubu pointed out that the UN’s leadership role in global peace and security cannot be sustained if its institutions remain rigid and dominated by a few powerful countries. He argued that reforms, particularly at the level of the UN Security Council, are necessary to give developing countries, including Nigeria, a stronger voice. According to him, a more representative and inclusive UN is the only way to maintain global trust and ensure that the organization lives up to its founding ideals.

The president further emphasized that Africa, with its growing population and strategic importance, must not be sidelined in global governance. He called on world leaders to support reforms that will empower underrepresented regions, stressing that the relevance and credibility of the UN depends on its ability to adapt. “A reformed UN is not just an African demand, it is a global necessity,” Tinubu said.