Opinion

Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the fabric of Nigeria’s history and society

Published

4 weeks ago

July 2, 2026

By Sabella Ogbobode Abidde,

As a scholar, I have always wanted to edit or co-edit a book on the Big Ten of Nigerian nationalists, focusing on their lives, times, and generational impact from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century.

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An august list would include greats such as Aminu Kano, Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alvan Ikoku, Anthony Enahoro, Ahmadu Bello, Egbert Udo Udoma, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, Eyo Ita, and Nnamdi Azikiwe. Two or more scholarly volumes would be ready before I bid farewell to my academic career.

But for now, this column briefly sheds light on a philosopher and mystic, who was also a political and economic giant: Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

His impact is multigenerational and wondrously woven into the fabric of Nigeria’s history, culture, and society.

Publicly available records indicate that the Nigerian nationalist movement began in the 1920s (Awolowo was born in 1909), so he had forebearers in the movement.

He later became one of the movement’s central figures, and by independence in October 1960, he had perhaps become the dominant personality shaping Nigeria’s political development and economic growth.

Awolowo was also a federalist. The first Premier of the Western region of Nigeria. The founder of the Yoruba nationalist group Egbe Omo Oduduwa.

He was the leader of the Action Group (AG), a political party and an opposition leader in the federal parliament, from 1959 to 1963.

A noted lawyer, author, journalist, and the founder and publisher of the Nigerian Tribune newspaper.

And in later years, under the first military regime, he served as the federal commissioner for finance and as vice chairman of the Federal Executive Council during the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War, 1967-1970.

Much later, Awolowo founded the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and became the party’s presidential candidate in 1979 and 1983.

The consensus was that, on both occasions – especially in 1979 – the electoral body, acting at the behest of the then military regime, put its foot and thumb on the ballot-counting machines to the detriment of Awolowo.

In other words, those who voted didn’t count; the military counted and secured the votes for their preferred candidate.

Those officially sanctioned electoral irregularities, many Nigerians have asserted, partially account for why Nigeria has remained politically and economically miserable and socially chaotic in the years since.

And in the years since his passing, many of the so-called Awoists — men and women who claimed to be adherents and practitioners of his precepts — have fallen by the wayside.

They failed! By 1997, one rarely finds a school of politicians parading themselves as students of or members of the Awolowo Cathedral.

In the second decade of the twenty-first century, many politicians lack the impudence to call themselves Awoists.

The irony is that in the northern part of Nigeria, one can rarely find a pool of politicians who, today, adhere to the teachings and practices of Mallam Aminu Kano. And in the east, there are no more followers of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Many politicians, from the east to the west, from the north to the south, and from the middle belt to the south-south, have done away with ethics, morality, ideology, or remaining faithful to their political parties.

Most no longer care about party manifestos or going to the State House, National Assembly, or the Presidency with the people’s burden on their hearts or shoulders.

In public or in private, participants in the Nigerian political and economic space think nothing about integrity, posterity, nation-building, or national interest. It is mostly about self-interest now.

That is what Nigeria has become! Many of the good, effective, efficient, visionary, and purposeful Nigerians are in hiding, while the audaciously corrupt are masters of the game, leaders at various levels of governance.

And we expect to change for the better? Heck no! It is a painful three-ring circus at all three levels.

I do not for once contend that the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a lost cause, a lost experiment, a lost entity, or a forsaken project. No! It can be saved; it can be brought back from the edge of the cliff.

And I also do not for once think that Nigeria should be partitioned into three or four separate countries.

Oh, no! I believe that sustained, first-rate, courageous, and visionary leadership can turn the Nigerian ship around. It is doable. This is not a hopeless country. It is not!

Many of the institutions Awolowo built are still going strong. Many of his policies have been proven right and correct. Many of his teachings have been found to be the appropriate panaceas for Nigeria.

And many of the physical infrastructure projects he built lasted for more than four decades.

And so, imagine where Nigeria would be today on the development scale – on the same level as Taiwan, South Korea, New Zealand, China, and Australia? Or the oil-rich Middle East countries.

Not having Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the president of this federation set her back three to four decades.

Examined dispassionately, his economic and political achievements have yet to be rivaled for several decades after his premiership of the western region, and neither has his commissionership (now minister) of the finance portfolio.

He was good, he was great, and he was miles above his contemporaries in the development of their various regions and in their generational legacies.

Without Awolowo’s policies, much of southern Nigeria – especially the western region — would perhaps be one of the least developed in today’s Nigeria.

Directly and indirectly, Awolowo was the man who made it possible for millions of Nigerians and their offspring to dream of and have a better life.

He promised, he delivered; he built and encouraged others, such as Michael Adekunle Ajasin (Ondo State), Lateef Kayode Jakande (Lagos State), Bola Ige (Oyo State), and Olabisi Onabanjo (Ogun State), to be builders.

If General Yakubu Dan-Yumma Gowon was the most consequential military leader Nigeria has ever had, Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo, was the single most consequential leader and public figure beginning with his premiership in 1954.

Above all else, he was a family man, a good man, a good Nigerian, and a Pan-Africanist. He was better than most and far better than we thought. That’s Awo for you, a man who’s woven into our consciousness.

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Chief Obafemi Awolowo would have been 117 this year, but he died at 78 in 1987 at his home in Ikenne, Ogun State. Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, affectionally called HID, was Awolowo’s “jewel of inestimable value.” He had said of her: “I do not hesitate to confess that I owe my success in life to three factors: the Grace of God, a Spartan self-discipline, and a good wife. Our home is to all of us, a true haven; a place of happiness, and of imperturbable seclusion from the buffetings of life.” HID was born in Ikenne, in1915 and passed in 2015 in the same locality. She was 99. It was a union and a marriage that lasted for five glorious decades.

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Opinion

The strategic imperative of global business summits on Africa

Published

11 hours ago

July 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

By Ehi Braimah

Africa has emerged as one of the most strategic frontiers for global investment, trade, innovation, and economic transformation.

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With a population projected to exceed 2.5 billion by 2050, abundant natural resources, a rapidly expanding middle class, and the world’s youngest workforce, the continent is increasingly attracting the attention of governments, multinational corporations, investors, development institutions, and entrepreneurs.

Against this backdrop, global business summits hosted in Africa and across the world on Africa, have become vital platforms for dialogue, partnership-building, and economic cooperation.

From investment forums and trade expos to leadership conferences and innovation summits, these gatherings bring together policymakers, business executives, financiers, academics, and development experts to discuss opportunities and challenges shaping Africa’s future.

Beyond networking events, they have become powerful instruments for driving economic growth, fostering regional integration, and positioning Africa as a key player in the global economy.

The summits on Africa and where they hold

The France-Africa Summit, otherwise known as Africa Future Forward Summit, held in Nairobi, Kenya from May 11 – 12 for the first time in an Anglophone country.

It was followed by Biashara Afrika in Lome, Togo, which held from May 18 – 22, while the London-Africa Business Summit convened by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, held on June 4.

The London Summit attracted diaspora professionals, international investors, and policymakers to discuss the harmonisation of capital markets, tech investments and economic growth on Africa.

On July 30, the Global Africa Summit will hold at the Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada. The summit will focus on translating Canada’s Africa Strategy into tangible trade, fintech, infrastructure, and green energy by connecting institutional investors with emerging African markets.

Other major and annual recurring events include the US-Africa Business Summit holding in Mauritius from July 26 – 29, co-hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa and the Government of Mauritius; the Opportunities in Africa Summit in New York City where investors and entrepreneurs explore Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) opportunities in high-growth markets like Rwanda, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire.

There’s also the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC, USA; the Africa CEO Forum, the Climate Change Global Business Summit on Africa which holds in Nairobi, Kenya; the Financial Times (FT) Africa Summit that will hold from October 21 – 22, at The Landmark, London; the Transform Africa Summit, the continent’s premier annual forum on technology, innovation and digital transformation organised by Smart Africa Alliance, and others.

Growing relevance of the summits

Global business summits serve as meeting points where ideas, capital, and opportunities converge. Their relevance has increased significantly as African economies seek to diversify beyond traditional sectors such as oil, gas, and mining into manufacturing, technology, agriculture, renewable energy, healthcare, and digital services.

These summits provide a unique platform for governments to showcase investment opportunities and policy reforms aimed at attracting FDI.

Investors, in turn, gain valuable insights into emerging markets, regulatory environments, and sector-specific opportunities.

For local businesses, the events offer exposure to international markets, potential partners, and financing sources.

The role of AfCFTA

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) should be the economic anchor of every Africa-focused global business summit.

Whether in Abuja, Lagos, Nairobi, Kigali, Mauritius, Paris, London, New York, Washington DC, Dubai, Moscow, or Beijing, AfCFTA must be presented not merely as a trade agreement but as Africa’s blueprint for industrialisation, regional value chains and a single market of over 1.4 billion people.

Rather than promoting 54 fragmented economies, African leaders should speak with one voice, using AfCFTA to attract investment in manufacturing, infrastructure, digital technology, agriculture and clean energy.

Global summits on Africa should therefore move beyond aid and commodity exports to partnerships that expand intra-African trade, technology transfer, skills development and value addition.

A united AfCFTA agenda will strengthen Africa’s bargaining power, reduce trade barriers, create jobs and position the continent as a competitive global investment destination.

Africa’s economic transformation depends on making AfCFTA the centrepiece of every international business engagement.

Benefits

One of the most significant benefits of global business summits is their ability to attract investment. Many investment deals, public-private partnerships, and development projects originate from conversations initiated during these events.

By bringing together key decision-makers in one location, summits reduce barriers to engagement and facilitate quicker decision-making.

Another major benefit is knowledge exchange. Participants gain access to expert insights on market trends, emerging technologies, sustainable development practices, climate finance, and global economic shifts.

Such knowledge helps businesses and governments make informed decisions that enhance competitiveness and resilience.

Business summits also stimulate tourism and local economic activity. Hotels, transportation services, restaurants, event management firms, and other service providers benefit from the influx of delegates.

Host cities often gain international visibility, improving their reputation as business and investment destinations.

Furthermore, these events contribute to capacity building. Young entrepreneurs, startups, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gain opportunities to learn from industry leaders, access mentorship, and connect with investors. This helps nurture the next generation of African business leaders and innovators.

On a broader scale, global business summits support economic diplomacy. Governments use these platforms to strengthen bilateral and multilateral relationships, negotiate trade agreements, and promote regional cooperation. Such engagements can lead to long-term economic partnerships that benefit multiple countries.

Africa’s strategic importance in the global economy

The increasing number of global business summits on Africa reflects the continent’s growing strategic importance.

Africa possesses approximately 30 percent of the world’s mineral reserves, including critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, manganese, and rare earth elements that are essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, and advanced manufacturing.

In addition, Africa’s agricultural potential remains largely untapped. The continent holds vast areas of arable land capable of contributing significantly to global food security.

Its expanding urban population and rising consumer demand also make it one of the most promising growth markets in the world.

The continent’s digital revolution further enhances its attractiveness. Mobile technology, fintech innovation, e-commerce, and digital payment systems have transformed business operations across many African countries such as Nigeria and Kenya.

Investors increasingly view Africa not only as a source of raw materials but also as a market for innovation and technological advancement.

The new scramble for Africa

The growing international interest in Africa has led many analysts to describe current geopolitical and economic competition as a “New Scramble for Africa.” Unlike the colonial-era scramble of the late nineteenth century, today’s competition is driven primarily by economic, technological, and strategic interests rather than direct territorial control.

Major global powers, including the United States, China, the European Union, India, Turkey, Russia, and Gulf states, are actively expanding their engagement across Africa.

They compete for access to natural resources, infrastructure projects, trade opportunities, energy partnerships, digital markets, and geopolitical influence.

China has become one of Africa’s largest trading partners and infrastructure financiers, investing heavily in roads, railways, ports, and industrial parks.

Western nations have responded by increasing investment initiatives focused on sustainable development, clean energy, digital infrastructure, and private sector growth.

Meanwhile, emerging powers are seeking to deepen commercial and diplomatic ties through trade agreements, investment missions, and development partnerships.

Global business summits often serve as arenas where these competing interests intersect. International corporations and governments use such forums to announce investment commitments, launch strategic partnerships, and strengthen economic relationships with African nations.

While increased global attention creates opportunities for growth and development, it also presents challenges. African countries must ensure that investments contribute to sustainable development, local job creation, technology transfer, and industrialization.

Effective governance, transparency, and strategic negotiation are essential to ensuring that Africa derives maximum benefit from foreign engagement.

Africa’s future

As Africa’s economic influence continues to grow, global business summits will play an increasingly important role in shaping the continent’s future.

These events provide platforms for investment mobilisation, innovation exchange, policy dialogue, and international cooperation.

They also help position African countries as active participants in global economic decision-making rather than passive recipients of external interests.

The challenge and opportunity for Africa lie in leveraging these platforms to advance its own development priorities.

By fostering strategic partnerships, promoting intra-African trade, supporting entrepreneurship, and ensuring inclusive growth, business summits can become powerful catalysts for transformation.

In the context of the new scramble for Africa, the continent is no longer merely a destination for external interests.

Increasingly, it is becoming a dynamic actor with the capacity to shape global markets, influence international investment flows, and define its own development trajectory.