- Experts call for stronger continental voice and strategic action
Leading African policy experts and scholars have convened in Abuja to chart a course for Africa’s proactive engagement in the rapidly evolving global order, sparked by geopolitical shifts and changing international alliances.
The high-level roundtable, themed African Perspectives on the Emerging Global Order, is a collaborative initiative involving Nigeria’s Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), South Africa’s Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), and the International Peace Institute (IPI) based in New York.
In his opening remarks, IPCR Director General Dr. Joseph Ochogwu emphasized the need for Africa to shift from passive observation to active participation in shaping the world order. “This forum aims to amplify Africa’s voice and galvanize collective action to enhance governance, security, and long-term stability across the continent,” he said.
Dapo Oyewole, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on International Cooperation, called on African leaders—especially Nigeria—to step up as architects of global discourse, rather than mere participants. “Nigeria must lead in shaping the future of global engagement. Africa must no longer be a bystander in a reconfigured world,” he said.
Oyewole underscored President Tinubu’s vision of Africa as a global influencer and highlighted the need for strategic planning and unified continental engagement. “Africa should speak with confidence, rooted in our realities and driven by our shared aspirations,” he said.
Prof. Tim Murithi, Head of Peacebuilding at IJR and Extraordinary Professor of African Studies at the University of the Free State, South Africa, described the current global situation as a crisis of multilateralism, citing the ineffectiveness of institutions like the UN Security Council.
“We must harness our collective capabilities through bodies like the AU and ECOWAS, and inject fresh, strategic ideas into the global conversation,” Murithi stressed. He also welcomed the collaboration with Nigeria, noting it as pivotal in anchoring Africa’s influence in global decision-making.
Bitania Tadesse, Africa Policy Specialist at IPI New York, said the roundtable offers a platform for co-creating solutions to global disruptions and for redefining Africa’s role in world affairs. “As global cooperation erodes and international aid declines, Africa must confront tough choices and assert itself with strategic clarity,” she noted.
Participants agreed that Africa stands at a critical juncture, with the opportunity—and responsibility—to lead through unity, political will, and a commitment to homegrown policy innovation.
