Jonathan arrives New York for UN General Assembly

The president will be the fourth world leader to address the assembly.

President Goodluck Jonathan arrived at the JFK International Airport in New York early Sunday ahead of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly.

Mr Jonathan was received by the supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri, the Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Joy Ogwu, and the Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S., Ade Adefuye.

He was later received at the city centre by the Minister of State for Works and supervising Minister, National Planning, Bashir Yuguda, the Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina, and Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State.

Mr Jonathan is scheduled to meet with no fewer than 250 Nigerian professionals in the U.S. later in the day and also meet U.S. President Barack Obama on a later date.
He will also hold five bilateral meetings that leaders of the EU, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, as well as Trinidad and Tobago.

This year's UNGA is a unique one for Nigeria as President Jonathan will be among the four world leaders and the first African leader to address the UN General Assembly.
He will be speaking after the leaders of Brazil, U.S. and Turkey.

After his address, the supervising minister of National Planning will be chairing the side event, organised by the Leading Group of Innovative Financing for Development, a global body which has 63 member nations and many International Non-Governmental Organisations. (NAN)