President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday, December 28, departed Lagos for Europe as part of his end of year break, ahead of an official engagement in the Middle East where he is scheduled to participate in a major global sustainability forum in the United Arab Emirates.
The President’s trip is in response to an invitation extended by the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to attend the 2026 edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit, also known as ADSW 2026. The high level summit is expected to take place in early January in Abu Dhabi and will bring together world leaders, policymakers, business executives, development partners and civil society actors to deliberate on strategies for advancing global sustainable development.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is an annual international platform dedicated to accelerating the transition towards sustainable growth, climate action and inclusive development. Over the years, the summit has emerged as a key forum for shaping global conversations on energy transition, climate resilience, innovation, financing and human capital development. It provides an opportunity for countries to showcase policy initiatives, attract investment and build partnerships aimed at addressing shared global challenges.
The 2026 edition of the summit will be held under the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go.” The theme underscores the urgency of coordinated global action and the need to align innovation, finance and people centred solutions to drive sustainable progress. Organisers of the event have noted that the summit will focus on translating ambition into measurable outcomes by fostering collaboration across sectors and regions.
President Tinubu’s participation in the summit is expected to reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable development, energy transition and climate responsive economic reforms. It also presents an avenue for engaging international partners on investment opportunities in Nigeria, particularly in renewable energy, infrastructure development, climate finance and technology driven growth. The President is expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit to further strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and other participating countries.
The trip comes at a time when Nigeria is pursuing wide ranging reforms aimed at stabilising the economy, attracting foreign direct investment and positioning the country as a key player in Africa’s green transition. Participation in global platforms such as ADSW provides an opportunity to articulate Nigeria’s policy direction and highlight ongoing efforts to align national development priorities with global sustainability goals.
After the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit, President Tinubu is expected to return to the country to resume official duties.
The President’s itinerary and participation at the summit were confirmed in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dated December 28, 2025.
