UNILAG to Host 10th Lagos Model UN Conference in September

By Olufon Esther, Iman Aiyeola and Barakat Lawal

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) will host the 10th edition of the Lagos Model United Nations (LMUN) Conference from 17 – 20 September, 2026, bringing together students and graduates from across West Africa for diplomacy, policy discussions and leadership development.

The conference, regarded as West Africa’s premier Model United Nations event, marks a decade of promoting diplomacy, leadership and policy engagement among young people through simulated United Nations committee sessions.

Founded by students of UNILAG, Faculty of Law, after participating in International Model United Nations conferences in cities such as Rome and across the United States, the organizers noted LMUN has grown over the past nine years into one of the region’s leading platforms for youth engagement in global affairs.

Speaking with UNILAG Sun, the Deputy Secretary-General of LMUN 2026, Onyinye Madubugwu, said the conference has distinguished itself by focusing on issues that reflect African realities.

“One way that we have made LMUN uniquely Nigerian and uniquely West African is through the topics that we discuss,” she said.

“Lots of the topics we’re discussing even this year, and which have been discussed over the years, are issues that are uniquely African.

“Things like unstable leadership structures in Africa, civil wars that cause displacement of our people, and issues around the restitution of African cultural heritage.

“So many of these are uniquely African issues which we have brought to the limelight in LMUN, and I’m glad that we have the opportunity to shine a light on what is happening in Africa because no one can tell our stories better than we can.”

As part of activities commemorating its 10th anniversary, the LMUN Secretariat said they organised several programmes throughout the year.

These included its first public mock conference, which was opened to members of the public, including non-paying delegates, a Walk for Sustainability held in May to promote environmental consciousness, and a community outreach initiative tagged Plastics for Plates.

The outreach programme was organised in partnership with the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

The secretariat noted that it encouraged residents to exchange collected plastic waste for food items as a way of promoting responsible waste disposal and environmental sustainability.

SECRETARIAT UNVEILS EXPANDED PROGRAMMES FOR ANNIVERSARY

According to the organisers, this year’s conference has also been expanded from three to four days and it will feature committee sessions, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) workshops, a partner pop-up, poolside networking sessions, an Idea Showcase and a multicultural dinner.

They also noted that delegates will be assigned committees and countries to represent, prepare position papers and participate in committee debates aimed at strengthening their research, negotiation, public speaking and policy advocacy skills while deepening their understanding of international issues.

The Secretary-General of LMUN 2026, Susanna Oladejo, told UNILAG Sun that the additional day was introduced to allow more time for robust discussions on pressing policy issues.

She also revealed that this year’s Idea Showcase would provide participants with opportunities beyond the conference.

“We have partnered with a firm in the United States, The Sustainable Access Foundation, so that winners and participants who go through this process will be able to develop their ideas on a larger scale,” she said.

“Beyond the prize, they will have access to the foundation’s accelerator programme, where they can refine their innovations to meet global standards.”

According to the secretariat, experts from different fields will facilitate the SDG workshops, which will focus on Sustainable Development Goals 9, 11 and 16, adding that discussions will address issues ranging from infrastructure and sustainable cities to stronger institutions and governance, reflecting contemporary challenges facing Nigeria and Africa.

Oladejo added that although participation costs N35,000 because of the expenses involved in organising the four-day conference, she noted that LMUN remains one of the most affordable Model United Nations conferences in Nigeria.

With preparations spanning almost a year, the secretariat said it is ready to welcome students and graduates from UNILAG and other tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

The organisers also appealed to corporate organisations and development partners to support the conference, describing such partnerships as an investment in the intellectual, leadership and policy-centred development of young Africans.