Thoughts on EU-Africa Global Affairs

Bridging the Gap through Diaspora Advocacy & Professional Excellence Award”

Collins Nweke Award Acceptance Speech

Nzuko Africa Festival 2026 – Paris, France
31 May 2026

Distinguished guests, esteemed partners of The AfrikaFora, fellow Africans and friends of Africa, ladies and gentlemen,

I stand before you tonight deeply humbled and profoundly grateful to receive the “Bridging the Gap through Diaspora Advocacy & Professional Excellence Award.”

To the leadership of The AfrikaFora, particularly the Founder / CEO, Madame Winifred Uloaku Gaillard, thank you for this honour. I accept it with a sense of gratitude, but also with a deep awareness that no meaningful journey is ever undertaken alone.

This recognition bears my name, but it belongs to many people.

It belongs to my family, especially my wife, Tonia, who has supported my often demanding public engagements here in Europe and increasingly across continents.

It belongs to colleagues, mentors, friends, and collaborators who have walked alongside me over the years.

It belongs to the countless members of the African Diaspora whose stories, struggles, sacrifices, and successes continue to inspire my work.

And it belongs to the young Africans, both on the continent and across the Diaspora, whose limitless potential convinces me every day that Africa’s best chapters are still ahead of us.

Tonight’s award carries a title that resonates deeply with me: “Bridging the Gap.”

In many ways, that phrase has defined much of my life’s work.

As a first-generation African migrant in Europe, I have spent decades navigating different worlds, Africa and Europe, public service and consultancy, local governance and international engagement, policy and practice.

Along the way, I discovered something important: the greatest barriers facing our world are often not geographical distances, but gaps in understanding, trust, opportunity, and representation.

The Diaspora occupies a unique position in this regard.

We understand the realities of our countries of origin while engaging daily with the systems and institutions of our countries of residence. We are uniquely positioned to build bridges where others see barriers and borders.

We bridge markets. We bridge cultures. We bridge ideas. We bridge innovation. We bridge generations. And increasingly, we bridge development.

For many years, the African Diaspora was viewed primarily through the lens of remittances. While remittances remain important, they represent only a fraction of our contribution.

The Diaspora is also a source of knowledge, networks, investment, innovation, policy influence, and soft power.

Indeed, this conviction became the foundation of my recently published book, Economic Diplomacy of the Diaspora and appropriately dedicated to my grandson with the following words: “For my grandson, Noah Nweke, That the world we shape today may take root in your hands and bloom in the tomorrows of your generation. With love and faith in the future”. Again, Noah may have been named here but to you, my young people of Africa, that aspirational message is for you all.

The central argument of that work is simple:

The Diaspora should not merely be seen as a community that sends money home. It should be recognized as a strategic partner in national development and international engagement.

If Africa is to achieve the transformation we seek, we must move beyond seeing our Diaspora as observers of development and embrace them as active participants in shaping it.

That is why this award is particularly meaningful to me.

It recognizes not only professional accomplishment but also advocacy, the belief that ideas matter, that institutions matter, and that people matter.

Throughout my career; whether serving in public office in Belgium, working in international trade and economic diplomacy, engaging with governments, speaking through the media, mentoring young people, or advocating for stronger Africa-Diaspora partnerships; I have remained guided by one conviction:

Africa’s future will be built not by governments alone, nor by business alone, nor by civil society alone, but through partnerships that bring all these forces together.

As Africans, we sometimes focus excessively on what divides us.

Nationality. Language. Religion. Ethnicity. Political persuasion.

Yet whenever I travel across Africa or engage with Africans around the world, I encounter something stronger than these differences.

I encounter a shared aspiration.

A shared determination.

A shared belief that Africa can and must occupy its rightful place in the world.

That belief is why gatherings such as Nzuko Africa matter.

The word Nzuko itself means coming together.

And perhaps there is no greater task before us today than coming together; across borders, generations, and sectors; to shape a common African future.

To the younger generation present here tonight, permit me to leave you with a brief message.

You are not merely the leaders of tomorrow.

You are already leaders today.

The Africa you desire will not arrive as a gift from history.

It must be built intentionally, through excellence, integrity, innovation, entrepreneurship, scholarship, and service.

Do not wait for perfect conditions.

Do not wait for permission.

Do not wait for others to define your possibilities.

Believe in your capacity to shape outcomes.

Africa’s rebirth will not be driven solely by natural resources beneath our soil.

It will be driven by the human resources within our people.

And among those people, none are more important than our youth.

As I accept this award tonight, I do so not as a destination reached, but as encouragement to continue the journey.

There remains much work to be done.

There are still gaps to bridge.

There are still partnerships to build.

There are still opportunities to unlock.

And there are still many African stories waiting to be written, waiting to be told.

I therefore accept this honour with renewed commitment to continue contributing, in whatever way I can, to a stronger Diaspora, a more prosperous Africa, and a more connected world.

Thank you once again to The AfrikaFora for this recognition.

Thank you to all who have supported my journey.

And thank you to every African, at home and abroad, who continues to believe in the promise of our continent.

Together, let us continue bridging the gap.

Together, let us continue building the future.

Together, let us continue advancing the African renaissance.

Thank you, and may God bless Africa and all her people.

Thank you.

Youth, Future, and the African Rebirth

Being a Speech Delivered by Collins Nweke as Guest of Honour and Founding Patron of The AfrikaFora, at Nzuko Africa 2026, Paris, France on 30 May 2026

Your Excellency, Founder & CEO The AfrikaFora, Madam Winifred Uloaku Gaillard

Incoming Grand Patron The AfrikaFora, Chief Ben C. Etiaba

Distinguished guests

Members of the African Diaspora

Young leaders

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is both a privilege and a deeply personal honour to stand before you today at Nzuko Africa 2026.

When I was invited to speak on the theme “Youth, Future, and the African Rebirth,” I at once recognised that this is not merely a conference theme. It is perhaps the defining question of our generation. And true to character, The AfrikaFora has located it within the context of Nzuko Africa 2026 in celebration of Africa Day.

The future of Africa will not be decided in conference halls alone.

It will be decided by the quality of our youth.

It will be determined by the courage of our ideas.

And it will be shaped by whether we choose hope over cynicism, action over complaint, and vision over nostalgia.

Because every generation inherits an Africa. But only a few generations are called upon to reinvent Africa.

I believe ours is one of them. And in more ways than one, The AfrikaFora epitomises it.

Africa’s Greatest Resource Is Not Under the Ground

For decades, the world has described Africa through the language of resources.

They speak of our oil. Our gas. Our minerals. Our fertile land. Our strategic location.

But I have come to believe that Africa’s greatest resource is not beneath the soil.

It is above it. It is the African youth.

The young woman in Lagos building a technology startup.

The young researcher in Nairobi developing solutions to local challenges.

The young entrepreneur in Abidjan.

The young creative in Johannesburg.

The young engineer in Kigali.

The young diaspora professional in Paris, Brussels, London, New York, Toronto, or Dubai.

Africa’s future is not hidden in its mines.

It is walking on its streets, from Kinshasa to Kigali.

It is sitting in our universities.

It is logging onto digital platforms.

It is waiting for an opportunity.

The question before us is simple:

Will we invest in this generation enough to allow it to flourish?

The Rebirth We Seek

When we speak of African rebirth, we must be clear about what we mean.

A rebirth is not a return to the past.

It is the creation of something new.

Africa does not need romantic nostalgia.

Nor does it need imported identities.

Africa needs confidence.

Confidence to innovate.

Confidence to trade.

Confidence to compete.

Confidence to collaborate.

Confidence to lead.

The African rebirth must therefore be economic, intellectual, technological, cultural, and institutional.

It must be a rebirth built not merely on political slogans but on measurable opportunities.

Because no young person can eat rhetoric.

No graduate can build a future on promises alone.

And no continent can prosper without creating pathways for its youth to participatemeaningfully in the economy.

African Youth & Economic Diplomacy

As many of you know, this year I begin a global tour around my recently published book, Economic Diplomacy of the Diaspora.

In every city I visit, from Europe to Africa and beyond, one question inevitably emerges:

“What role should young Africans play in shaping Africa’s future?”

The answer lies at the very heart of the book.

The central argument of Economic Diplomacy of the Diaspora is simple:

Diaspora communities are not merely remittance senders.

They are bridges.

Bridges of knowledge.

Bridges of capital.

Bridges of innovation.

Bridges of culture.

Bridges of opportunity.

And when those bridges are deliberately connected to Africa’s development aspirations, extraordinary things become possible.

But there is an important evolution of that idea.

The future of diaspora engagement is not my generation.

It is yours.

The next phase of Africa’s economic diplomacy will be led by digitally connected, globally educated, technologically fluent young Africans.

Young people who understand both Africa and the world.

Young people who can move comfortably between Lagos and London, Kigali and Brussels, Accra and Toronto, Nairobi and Silicon Valley.

Young people who can transform identity into influence and influence into development.

The African rebirth will not happen despite its youth.

It will happen because of its youth.

A New Social Contract

But let me speak frankly.

Young Africans cannot carry the burden of Africa’s future alone.

Governments have responsibilities.

Institutions have responsibilities.

The private sector has responsibilities.

The Diaspora has responsibilities.

And elders have responsibilities.

Every generation owes the next generation more than advice.

It owes them opportunity.

We cannot continue asking young people to believe in a future that we ourselves have failed to prepare.

The African rebirth requires a new social contract.

One that prioritises education.

Rewards innovation.

Encourages entrepreneurship.

Protects merit.

Strengthens institutions.

And creates an environment where talent can thrive regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, social background, or geography.

The Power of Passing the Baton

Today is particularly emotional for me. As Founding Patron of The AfrikaFora, I have had the privilege of watching an idea become a movement.

I have seen commitment transform into community.

I have seen vision become impact. And today, I formally step aside from that role.

But let me be clear. Stepping aside is not stepping out.

It is renewal.

It is continuity.

It is faith in the future.

No institution survives if it depends on one individual.

Strong institutions endure because leadership is transferred with grace, trust, and purpose.

That is why I am delighted that the baton passes into the capable hands of our new Grand Patron, Chief Ben C. Etiaba.

Chief Etiaba has demonstrated repeatedly, in different spheres of service and leadership, an exceptional ability to receive a baton and carry it forward with dignity, wisdom, and results.

I have every confidence that under his stewardship, The AfrikaFora will not merely continue.

It will grow.

It will flourish.

And it will reach heights beyond what we originally imagined.

That is how progress works.

Each generation builds a bridge and invites the next generation to extend it.

A Message to Young Africans

To the young people listening today:

Do not wait for permission to dream.

Do not wait for perfect conditions.

Do not wait for governments to solve every problem.

Africa’s future belongs to those willing to build it.

Be ambitious enough to compete globally.

Be proud enough to remain connected to Africa.

Be innovative enough to create solutions.

And be courageous enough to challenge systems that no longer serve the common good.

The future is not something that happens to you.

The future is something you create.

Conclusion: Africa’s Finest Century

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I remain optimistic.

Not because Africa’s challenges are small.

But because Africa’s possibilities are enormous.

I have travelled widely.

I have worked across diplomacy, governance, business, media, and civil society.

And everywhere I go, I encounter evidence that Africa’s moment is not behind us.

It is ahead of us.

The rebirth of Africa will not be delivered by destiny.

People will deliver it.

By visionaries.

By innovators.

By entrepreneurs.

By scholars.

By patriots.

By diaspora communities.

And above all, by young Africans who refuse to accept that the future must resemble the past.

Let us therefore leave this gathering committed to one shared mission:

To build an Africa where talent matters more than circumstance.

Where opportunity matters more than privilege.

Where institutions outlive personalities.

Where leadership creates successors.

And where every young African can confidently say:

“The future is not somewhere else. The future is here. And I am part of building it.”

That is the Africa worth believing in.

That is the Africa worth building.

And that is the Africa whose rebirth has already begun.

Thank you.

God bless Africa.
God bless the African Diaspora.
And God bless the generation that will complete Africa’s rebirth.

Collins Nweke is Founding Patron, The AfrikaFora and Author, Economic Diplomacy of the Diaspora

AKU LUO UNO

Reimagining Diaspora Wealth as Strategic Capital for Homeland Development

Abstract for a keynote speech at the Imo Community Europe 2026 Annual Convention in Freiburg, Germany on Saturday 2 May 2026

by Collins Nweke

The Igbo philosophical construct aku luo uno, literally translated as “may wealth reach home” has long served as a moral compass guiding the relationship between individual success and communal responsibility. Historically, it affirmed a simple but powerful proposition: prosperity achieves its fullest meaning when it is reinvested in one’s place of origin. In contemporary times, however, the meaning of aku luo uno demands both preservation and reinterpretation.

This presentation situates aku luo uno within the broader framework of diaspora economic diplomacy, arguing that what was once a cultural expectation must now evolve into a structured development strategy. The modern Igbo diaspora is no longer defined solely by remittances or symbolic homecoming projects, but by its capacity to mobilise capital, knowledge, networks, and institutional influence across borders.

Drawing from the central thesis of Economic Diplomacy of the Diaspora (Nweke, Collins, 2026) the presentation advances three interconnected arguments.

First, that diaspora wealth must be understood not merely in financial terms, but as a composite of economic, intellectual, and relational capital.

Second, that the effectiveness of aku luo uno depends on moving from fragmented individual efforts to coordinated, scalable interventions, through investment platforms, policy engagement, and partnerships with credible institutions.

Third, that sustainable impact requires a shift from consumption-driven remittances to production-oriented investments capable of generating jobs, infrastructure, and long-term value within Imo and Southeast Nigeria.

The discussion will also confront the tensions embedded in the philosophy: the pressure of expectation on diaspora individuals, the risks of poorly structured investments, and the governance gaps that often undermine trust. In doing so, it seeks to move the conversation from obligation to strategy, from sentiment to systems.

Ultimately, aku luo uno is reframed not as a nostalgic ideal, but as a forward-looking doctrine, one that positions the diaspora as a decisive actor in shaping the economic future of its homeland. The question is no longer whether wealth should return home, but how it can do so in ways that are intelligent, impactful, and enduring.

Collins Nweke

Ostend, Belgium | www.collinsnweke.eu | admin@collinsnweke.eu

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THE SPEECH 🎤

Aku Luo Uno: When Wealth Finds Its Way Home

Distinguished leaders of the Imo Community Europe,

Your Excellencies, honoured guests,

Ndi Imo, umunne’m,

There are certain phrases in our Igbo language that do not merely communicate. They command.

They carry memory, expectation, and judgment all at once.

Aku luo uno is one of them.

It is not just a proverb. It is not even just a philosophy.

It is a quiet but firm question that follows every Igbo person, wherever they go in the world:

When your wealth has grown… will it remember the road home?

For generations, our people have understood success in a way that is both deeply personal and profoundly communal. A man may build towers abroad, earn titles, command influence. But there is a simple test that awaits him at home. Not harsh, not loud, but unmistakably clear:

Who have you lifted? What have you built? What remains of you here?

And so we grew up hearing and believing that if a person is known all over the world but not known in his hometown, then he is, in truth, not yet known.

That is the moral architecture of aku luo uno.

But today, standing here in Europe, we must ask ourselves an honest question:

What does aku luo uno mean in our time? What imperatives of our time does aku luo uno denote?

Because the world has changed. And so must our understanding.

From Obligation to Strategy

In the past, aku luo uno often expressed itself in visible, immediate ways.

A house built in the village.

Support for extended family.

Community projects: wells, town halls, scholarships.

These were noble. They still are.

But today, they are no longer sufficient.

Because the scale of the challenge at home has changed. And the capacity of the diaspora has also changed.

We are no longer a scattered people sending money home.

We are professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, investors, innovators.

We sit in boardrooms, universities, institutions, and governments across Europe and beyond.

Which means this:

Our wealth is no longer only what we earn. It is what we know, who we know, and what we can influence.

So aku luo uno must evolve, from a moral obligation into a strategic instrument.

What Does It Mean for Wealth to Truly “Come Home”?

Let me suggest three shifts.

First: From Money to Capital

When we say aku, we often think of money.

But money alone does not transform societies.

Capital is broader.

It includes:

Knowledge
Skills
Networks
Access
Credibility

If you bring money home without systems, it disappears.

If you bring knowledge and structure, it multiplies.

So the real question is not: How much have you sent home?

But: What have you built that can outlive you?

Second: From Individual Effort to Collective Impact

One of our strengths as Igbo people is individual enterprise.

But one of our limitations is fragmentation.

Too many of us are doing small, disconnected things.

Building in isolation. Investing without coordination.

Meanwhile, the problems we seek to solve: industrialisation, healthcare, education, infrastructure,… are not small problems. They require scale.

So aku luo uno in our time must become collective.

Not just:

my project

But:

our platform

Not just:

my success story

But:

our shared transformation

We must begin to think in terms of:

Diaspora investment clusters
Structured partnerships with credible institutions
Long-term projects, not one-off interventions

Because scattered drops of water cannot build a river. As we talk of aku luo uno, let us remember also that: anyu kosia mamili onu, ogba ofufu. Do I need to explain further? Mba nu!

Third: From Consumption to Production

Let us be candid with ourselves.

A significant portion of what we send home is consumed.

Celebrations. Buildings that do not produce value.

Short-term relief without long-term impact.

But no society develops through consumption.

Development comes from production:

Businesses that create jobs
Systems that generate value
Investments that compound over time

So when wealth returns home, it must not only be seen. It must be felt economically.

It must employ people.

It must create opportunity.

It must shift the structure of the local economy.

That is when aku has truly luo uno.

The Difficult Truths We Must Confront

But let us not romanticise this journey.

There are real tensions.

Many in the diaspora have invested and lost:

to poor governance, weak institutions, corruption, inefficiency, broken trust… It is a long list!

Others feel overwhelmed by expectations:

as though success abroad automatically makes them responsible for everything at home.

And some have simply withdrawn:

choosing distance over disappointment.

These are not trivial concerns. They are real. They have affected real Ndigbo. They still affect Umu Imo…

But here is the truth:

No society develops in perfect conditions.

Society develops because people decide to build despite imperfection.

The answer is not withdrawal.

The answer is structure, collaboration, and smarter engagement.

A New Interpretation of Aku Luo Uno

So perhaps it is time to reinterpret the proverb.

Maybe aku luo uno should no longer be understood as:

“Bring your wealth home.”

But rather:

“Let your wealth find intelligent pathways home.”

Pathways that are:

Structured
Scalable
Sustainable

Pathways that transform not just families, but communities.

Not just communities, but systems.

Conclusion: The Road Home Is Still Calling

Ndi Imo, umunne m,

No matter how far we travel, there is something about home that does not travel with us.

It waits.

And in that waiting, there is a quiet expectation. Not of charity. But of contribution.

The question before us is not whether we have succeeded abroad.

Many of us have.

The question is:

Will that success remain personal…

or will it become purposeful?

Because in the end, aku luo uno is not about geography.

It is about legacy.

It is about ensuring that when our story is told,

it is not only said that we went far…

But that something meaningful followed us back home.

Thank you. Dâlu nú Umu Imo.
Jisinu Ike Ndigbo!

Zero-Tariff China Access can be a Strategic Opening for Nigeria if Matched with Domestic Reform

In a Worker’s Day 2026 interview, incidentally the same day that Zero-Tariff China Access for Africa took effect, South African Broadcasting Service radio, had me on to discuss the implications of the new trade regime for Nigeria.

Zero-Tariff China Access essentially means that a wide range of African exports can now enter China duty-free. For Nigeria, this is both an opportunity and a test of readiness.

On the opportunity side, it potentially opens up the world’s second-largest consumer market to Nigerian products like agricultural goods, solid minerals, leather, textiles, and even some manufactured items. If properly leveraged, Nigeria could diversify away from oil and earn more non-oil export revenue, which is critical for economic stability.

However, and this is the critical point, zero tariffs do not automatically translate into increased exports. Nigeria’s challenge has never really been market access. It has been production capacity, quality standards, and export logistics. China is a highly competitive market with strict phytosanitary and industrial standards. Many Nigerian producers are not yet positioned to meet those consistently.

There is also a structural concern: without a deliberate export strategy, Nigeria risks deepening its role as a raw material supplier, rather than moving up the value chain. So instead of exporting processed cocoa, for example, we may continue exporting raw cocoa while importing finished goods at a higher value.

So, in summary, Zero-Tariff China Access is a strategic opening, but it will only benefit Nigeria if it is matched with domestic reforms: improving infrastructure, supporting exporters, ensuring standards compliance, and aligning trade policy with industrial policy.

If Nigeria gets that alignment right, this could be transformative. If not, it risks becoming another missed opportunity, I told Innocent Samosa, Business Reporter at SABS Radio here

https://omny.fm/shows/business-africa/china-grants-africa-zero-tariff-access-to-all-africa-countries

Beyond Cambridge: A Labour Day Dialogue with Prof. Chidi Osuagwu on the Wealth of Souls

It is a rare privilege when a thinker of Professor Chidi Osuagwu’s caliber taps you on the shoulder, metaphorically speaking, to hand you a map of the world’s hidden plumbing. When he sent me his piece, “Obamanomics and Economics Beyond Cambridge,” an opinion editorial he did for BusinessDay of 9 December 2014, it arrived with the casual yet piercing confidence of a man who has seen the ending of the movie while the rest of us are still arguing over the opening credits.

“See here Collins,” his note read, “I spotted Trump as trouble long before the public knew him.”

The timing of his message; landing in my inbox on Labour Day 2026 as I was just fine-tuning my Labour Day message, was, I suspect, no accident. For a man who views the economy through the prism of the “Matthew Effect” (where the rich grow fat and the poor grow lean by some perverse mechanical gravity), sending a treatise on the “Econosociofugal Force” on the very day dedicated to the dignity of the worker is the height of intellectual symbolism. It was a silent nod to the fact that while the world celebrates Labour, the current economic machinery is designed to ensure that the fruits of that labor rarely stay in the hands that produced them. I suspect that since reading over the past year or two, after our initial path-crossing at the corridors of setting up industrial park clusters in Nigeria’s Southeast Region, Prof knew that his piece will speak to me.

The Pragmatist in the Prophet’s Robe

In psychologising Prof. Osuagwu’s ideological leanings, one finds a fascinating tension. He is what I would call a Pragmatic Internationalist, yet one whose pragmatism is seasoned with a dash of the prophetic.

He looks at Barack Obama and sees a kindred spirit, a non-doctrinaire pragmatist and someone trying to weld the rigid pipes of Monetarism, Keynesianism, and Marxian theory into a functional machine. Prof respects the craft of governing. He understands that to save a ship from the “abyss,” you use whatever tools are on deck. However, where he departs from the standard pragmatic statesman is in his refusal to accept that the abyss was a one-time event.

The Physics of Sin: The Heterodox Mind

What strikes me most about Prof’s psyche is his Heterodoxy. He isn’t content with the dry, bloodless formulas of Cambridge or Chicago. To him, economics isn’t just social science. Economics to him is a branch of thermodynamics. He writes of the Econosociofugal Force as if it were a law of gravity, a “nothing comes out of nothing” reality that most bankers conveniently ignore.

There is a distinct Moralist-Egalitarian streak here. When he references Karl Marx as “Christ’s much younger cousin,” he isn’t just being witty; he is revealing a worldview where economic justice is a spiritual imperative. He sees the concentration of wealth not as a success of the market, but as a “perverse” mechanical failure that tears the social fabric. To Prof Osuagwu, a system that violates the laws of entropy and the laws of equity simultaneously is not just inefficient. It is doomed or as Nigerians will typically say, dead on arrival.

The Long View: Predicting the “Trouble”

His note about spotting Trump early makes perfect sense when you look at his analysis of the under-expectations of the Obama era. Prof saw that while Obamanomics saved the system, it didn’t fix the drain. He understood that if the “Matthew Effect” continued to hollow out the middle, the resulting vacuum would inevitably be filled by something volatile. He didn’t need a poll to see the “trouble” coming. He simply looked at the pressure gauges of his “Econosociofugal” model and saw the mercury rising.

The “No-Fault” Statesman

Perhaps the most “statesmanlike” quality of Prof’s ideology is his call for a Universal, No-Fault Debt Jubilee. It is a radical proposal, yes, but it is born of a cold, hard realism. He recognizes that the global debt is a mathematical fiction that cannot be repaid without destroying the human element it was meant to serve.

In Professor Chidi G Osuagwu, we find a mind that is at once deeply grounded in the physical laws of our world and soaring in its demand for a higher moral order. He is the pragmatic internationalist who realises that if we don’t fix the plumbing, the most beautiful house in the world; be it in Washington, Abuja, or Brasilia; will eventually collapse.

So, on this Labour Day, as I sat with his words, I realised Prof wasn’t just sharing an article. He was sharing a warning. And if his track record on “spotting trouble” is any indication, we would be wise to stop arguing about the tools and start looking at the foundations.

About the AUTHOR

Collins NWEKE is an International Trade Consultant & Economic Diplomacy researcher. He was a former Green Councillor at Ostend City Council, Belgium, where he served three consecutive terms until December 2024. A first-generation migrant who transitioned from civil society activism into elected office, he writes frequently on democracy, governance, and Africa–Europe relations. He is the author of the book ‘Economic Diplomacy of the Diaspora’. He is also a Distinguished Fellow of the International Association of Research Scholars and Administrators, serving on its Governing Council. A columnist for The Brussels Times, Proshare, and Global Affairs Analyst with a host of media houses, Collins writes from Brussels, Belgium. X: @collinsnweke E: admin@collinsnweke.eu W: www.collinsnweke.eu

The New Mobility Consensus: A Challenge for the Greens in a Post-Bulldozer Brussels

The political landscape of Brussels is undergoing a transformation that few would have predicted a year ago. This is more so for those of us who have long championed sustainable mobility. With Boris Dilliès, the newly elected Minister-President, now framing cycling not as a competitor to the automobile but as a benefactor to it, we are witnessing a significant recalibration of urban discourse.

For the seasoned observer, this shift invites a dual reading. Is it a cynical political flip-flop, a calculated attempt to neutralise opposition? Or is it a genuine evolution toward political realism? That is the pragmatic recognition that in a dense, complex city like Brussels, the “car-versus-bike” culture war has become a net negative for governance.

Whatever the reading, Dilliès’ rhetorical pivot is astute. By thanking cyclists for “making space for drivers,” he has effectively dismantled the adversarial binary that paralysed the previous administration. For those of us who are keen cyclists and have spent years fighting for protected lanes, this is, in many ways, a victory of normalisation. Cycling is no longer a niche, ideological pursuit. It is now recognised as a systemic necessity.

However, this “Dilliès Consensus” leaves the traditional progressive and Green forces in a precarious, if not uncomfortable, position.

The Dilemma for the Greens

For parties that have made pro-cycling infrastructure their raison d’être, having an opponent adopt your language and arguably, your policy trajectory, is disarming. It creates a “success trap.” When your primary political antagonist starts implementing the very measures you campaigned on, the traditional mechanisms of opposition begin to rust. If you continue to attack, you risk appearing dogmatic or obstructionist. If you remain silent, you lose your distinctive brand.

The Green movement in Brussels now faces a fundamental strategic inflection point. If the Minister-President is truly committed to this path, the “activist” phase of policy-making for the Greens has reached its end. The Greens must now transition from being the architects of resistance to the guardians of implementation.

A Strategy for the New Era: Three Pillars for the Greens

To remain relevant and influential in the new, “pragmatic” Brussels, the Green movement must evolve its positioning:

1. Move from “Why” to “How”: The ideological debate on the necessity of cycling is largely won. The new battleground is delivery. The Greens should shift their focus to rigorous oversight, holding the government accountable to the technical quality, safety standards, and timelines of new infrastructure. If Dilliès is serious about his pragmatism, he will welcome this oversight. If he is not, the Greens become the essential “quality control” for the city.

2. Redefine “Pragmatism” to include Equity: Dilliès’ pragmatism focuses on traffic flow and commuter efficiency. The Greens should expand the definition of pragmatism to include social and spatial justice. A truly pragmatic city is not just one that moves traffic efficiently. It is one that ensures that mobility is inclusive of those who cannot afford a car and those who live in the most congested, polluted neighbourhoods. This provides a distinct, “value-add” dimension to the discourse that the current government’s efficiency-based narrative may overlook.

3. Claim the “Systemic Architect” Role: Rather than fighting over individual lanes, the Greens should position themselves as the designers of the next systemic leap: intermodal hubs, regional connectivity, and the integration of micro-mobility with public transport. By focusing on the system rather than the symptom, you reclaim the role of visionaries.

Ultimately, the normalization of cycling in Brussels is an achievement the Greens should claim, regardless of which party carries the banner. True political maturity lies in recognising that our ideas are stronger when they transcend party lines.

For the Greens, this is not a moment for mourning the loss of a battle. It is an invitation to elevate the war. The goal was never to win a partisan victory. The goal was to build a livable city. If the current administration is willing to help lay the bricks, the task of the Greens is not to tear the wall down, but to ensure it is built to last. It is time for a new kind of opposition: one defined not by obstruction, but by a relentless commitment to the public good.

The UK-Nigeria Migration Pact: Strategic Diplomacy or a Missed Opportunity for Human Capital?

The recent “strengthening” of the Migration, Justice, and Home Affairs (MJHA) partnership between the United Kingdom and Nigeria marks a pivotal, yet contentious, moment in Afro-British relations. Billed as a “landmark” in security cooperation, the deal introduces the “UK Letter”, dressed up as a mechanism allowing the UK Home Office to bypass traditional passport bottlenecks for removals, alongside a “Fusion Cell” to combat visa fraud.

While the optics suggest a robust defense of sovereign borders, a deeper policy analysis reveals a framework that is increasingly out of sync with the global shift toward Economic Migration Management. For a partnership that claims to be “forward-looking,” it remains stubbornly anchored in the mechanics of removal rather than the dynamics of human capital.

The Asymmetry of the “Security-First” Model

On the surface, the MJHA is presented as a reciprocal arrangement. However, the benefits are fundamentally asymmetrical. The UK gains a fast-track solution to a domestic political pressure point; the visibility of “failed” migration; while Nigeria receives vague assurances regarding business visa streamlining.

As a migration advocate, one must ask: is Nigeria merely serving as an enforcement arm for the UK Home Office? By facilitating the removal of thousands without addressing the structural drivers of their movement, we are treating the symptoms of a global economic disparity while ignoring the disease.

Shifting the Paradigm: Lessons from the ‘Arraigo’ and ‘Chancenkarte’

To move toward a more statesmanlike discourse, we must look to European neighbours who are pioneering more sophisticated, “rooting-based” models.

· Spain’s Arraigo (Social Rooting): Spain has recognized that after two to three years of residency, an individual is no longer just a “migrant” but a community member. Their model allows for the regularisation of status through employment, turning a “legal liability” into a Social Security-contributing asset.

· Germany’s Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card): Germany is moving toward a points-based flexibility that allows migrants to “switch lanes” (Spurwechsel) from irregular status to work permits if they possess the skills the German economy lacks.

These are not “soft” policies. They are economically literate ones. They prioritise the fiscal contribution of the individual over the prohibitive cost of deportation flights and diplomatic friction.

A Blueprint for “Migration for Development”

Nigeria should not be a passive “returning partner.” A truly strategic partnership would advocate for a Global Skill Partnership (GSP).

In this model, the UK would invest in Nigerian vocational training, creating a “dual-track” system. One group of trainees remains to strengthen the Nigerian domestic market, while the other is granted a legal, streamlined pathway to the UK. This transforms the “brain drain” into a “brain gain,” ensuring that Nigeria’s human capital is developed, not just depleted. The initiative, SkillUp Nigeria can be a credible partner in this model.

Furthermore, we must discuss Regularisation for Remittance. With remittances to Nigeria exceeding $20 billion annually, the economic stability of millions of Nigerian households depends on the diaspora. Instead of mass removals, the UK should offer “probationary status” to non-criminal overstayers. This keeps the wheels of the Nigerian economy turning and saves the UK taxpayer the immense cost of enforcement.

In the final analysis, Nigeria and the UK must move from enforcement to engagement. The 2026 UK-Nigeria pact is a functional tool for border security, but it is not a vision for a shared future. If the UK and Nigeria are to be true strategic partners, they must move beyond the “UK Letter.”

We must demand a transition from Security-led Migration to Investment-led Migration. Security is a prerequisite for order, but human capital is the prerequisite for prosperity. A modern, statesmanlike approach would value the Nigerian migrant not by the speed of their departure, but by the potential of their contribution.

Collins Nweke is the author of Economic Diplomacy of the Diaspora (2026) and Senior International Trade Consultant. He writes from Brussels, Belgium.

Collins Nweke Appointed President of International Research Scholars Association (IARSAC), Delaware, USA

Press release, Ostend, Belgium — 9 March 2026

Collins Nweke DFRA, PhD (hc) a senior international trade consultant, policy commentator, and author based in Belgium, has been appointed President of the International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators Corporation (IARSAC), Delaware, United States.

The appointment, which took effect on 23 February 2026, was confirmed by the Board of Directors of IARSA Consortium following a selection process conducted in December 2025.

IARSAC is the United States unit of a global research consortium, International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators (IARSA) committed to advancing research excellence, academic leadership, and cross-cultural collaboration among scholars and research administrators worldwide. Through its initiatives, the association promotes international research cooperation and strengthens networks connecting scholars, institutions, and policy communities.

In accepting the appointment, Dr. Nweke expressed appreciation for the confidence placed in him and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the association’s mission.

“I am honoured by the trust placed in me by the leadership of IARSAC. At a time when knowledge and research collaboration are essential to addressing global challenges, institutions like ours must play a stronger role in connecting ideas, institutions, and societies across borders.”

Dr. Nweke brings to the role extensive experience spanning public policy, international economic diplomacy, research collaboration, and diaspora engagement. He is also the author of the book Economic Diplomacy of the Diaspora, which explores the role of global diaspora communities in shaping international economic relations.

Under his leadership, IARSAC is expected to deepen its work in promoting international research cooperation, knowledge exchange, and institutional partnerships across Africa, Europe, and other regions of the world.

Presidential Vision Statement – Why Global Research Collaboration Matters More Than Ever

At a time when the world faces increasingly complex challenges—from climate change and technological disruption to geopolitical fragmentation and widening development gaps—one truth stands out clearly: no nation or institution can solve global problems alone.

Knowledge has always been humanity’s most powerful tool for progress. Yet knowledge reaches its full potential only when it is shared, tested, and enriched through collaboration across borders, disciplines, and cultures.

It is in this spirit that I accept the responsibility to serve as President of the International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators Corporation (IARSAC).

IARSAC stands for something both simple and profound: the belief that research excellence thrives in networks. By connecting scholars, administrators, and institutions from different parts of the world, we create ecosystems where ideas can travel freely and innovation can flourish.

My vision for IARSAC during this period is guided by three priorities.

First, we must strengthen global research networks, ensuring that scholars from every region, including emerging knowledge hubs across Africa and the Global South, are fully integrated into international research conversations.

Second, we must promote knowledge diplomacy: the use of academic collaboration as a bridge between societies, cultures, and policy communities.

Third, we must support the translation of research into practical impact, ensuring that scholarship contributes meaningfully to solving real-world challenges.

Research is not merely an academic exercise; it is a public good. When scholars collaborate across borders, they do more than produce knowledge—they build trust, foster understanding, and create pathways for shared progress.

As we look ahead, IARSAC will continue to champion the idea that global networks of knowledge are essential to a more cooperative and resilient world.

I look forward to working with colleagues across the world to advance this mission.

Collins Nweke DFRA, PhD (hc)

President

International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators Corporation (IARSAC)

More information about the organisation can be found at:

www.iarsac.org

Strategic Imperatives for A Nigerian Envoy in Brussels

by Collins Nweke

Why the mission to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union is one of Nigeria’s most strategically important diplomatic postings today

As I sit in a café overlooking Luxembourgplein, watching the rhythmic bustle of Eurocrats and diplomats, I am reminded how much of the world quietly passes through Brussels. Policies drafted here shape markets, migration, energy, technology, and security far beyond Europe’s borders.

Having called Belgium home for more than three decades, I have seen many Nigerian envoys pass through the gates of Tervurenlaan. Yet the arrival of Ambassador Dr Adebayo E Adeyemi feels different, largely because the moment itself is different.

The world of 2026 is no longer debating potential. It is responding to shifting tectonic plates of power. For Nigeria, the diplomatic mission to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and the European Union is not merely another posting. It is the cockpit of Nigeria’s engagement with Europe.

Few diplomatic stations combine such strategic weight.

The Triple Gateway to Europe

The mission in Brussels demands what might be called triple-gateway diplomacy.

Belgium: Europe’s Logistics Nerve Centre

Belgium remains one of Nigeria’s most significant trade partners in Europe. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Europe’s second largest seaport, serves as a critical gateway through which Nigerian exports enter the European market.

From cocoa and agricultural commodities to petrochemicals and manufactured goods, this maritime corridor connects Nigeria directly to Europe’s industrial supply chains.

For Nigerian economic diplomacy, Antwerp is not just a port. It is an entry point into the European economy.

Luxembourg: The Financial Fortress

Luxembourg, though small in size, is a giant in global finance. As one of the world’s leading hubs for investment funds and sustainable finance, it holds particular relevance for a Nigeria seeking to diversify beyond oil.

Luxembourg’s sophisticated ecosystem in green bonds, climate finance, and fintech innovation could play a catalytic role in financing Nigeria’s energy transition, infrastructure expansion, and digital economy ambitions. This is where diplomacy meets capital.

The European Union: The Regulatory Superpower

Perhaps most significantly, Brussels is the political and regulatory heart of the European Union.

Today, EU regulations increasingly shape global standards, from data governance and artificial intelligence to carbon border adjustments and supply-chain sustainability rules.

For Nigeria, the EU is already its largest trading partner, accounting for roughly one-third of Nigeria’s external trade. The relationship is also evolving institutionally through initiatives such as the EU–Nigeria Peace, Security and Defence Dialogue and negotiations on a Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement.

The era of donor-recipient engagement is gradually giving way to a more complex relationship; one that must increasingly be framed as a strategic partnership of equals.

Beyond the Cocktail Circuit

For Nigeria’s envoy, success in Brussels will depend on moving beyond traditional diplomatic routines and embracing active economic diplomacy.

Diplomatic receptions and protocol will always matter. But the real work lies elsewhere: in boardrooms, innovation hubs, policy forums, and diaspora networks.

Three strategic opportunities stand out.

The Creative Economy

Nigeria’s creative industries have become global cultural forces. Nollywood, Afrobeats, fashion, gaming, and digital media now command international audiences and investment interest.

Platforms such as the Nigeria Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum must increasingly present these sectors not as cultural exports but as scalable investment ecosystems.

Nigeria’s challenge is to leverage Europe’s continued demand for natural gas while simultaneously mobilising financing for renewable energy expansion.

In the global economy, culture has become capital.

Energy Transition and Green Finance

Europe’s accelerating transition toward cleaner energy creates both pressure and opportunity for energy-producing countries.

Luxembourg’s financial ecosystem could become an important platform for structuring green bonds and blended finance instruments capable of supporting Nigeria’s energy transition while aligning with European ESG standards.

Handled strategically, diplomacy can become a bridge between energy security and energy transformation.

The Diaspora Advantage

Perhaps Nigeria’s most underutilised diplomatic resource in Europe remains its diaspora.

Across Belgium, Luxembourg, and the wider EU, Nigerian professionals occupy influential roles in business, academia, technology, healthcare, and the arts. Their networks reach deep into European institutions and markets.

A forward-looking embassy should treat the diaspora not merely as citizens abroad but as strategic partners in economic diplomacy, a fourth arm of the mission capable of opening doors that traditional diplomatic channels cannot easily access.

The Shadows in the Corridor

Yet Brussels is also a place where narratives matter.

Europe’s perception of Nigeria is too often framed through two lenses: migration and security. Instability across the Sahel and wider West Africa risks reinforcing these narratives, narrowing the scope of engagement.

For any ambassador, the temptation can be to spend valuable diplomatic energy constantly responding to concerns around irregular migration, terrorism, or governance challenges.

But reactive diplomacy rarely advances national interests.

The more strategic path is to reframe Nigeria’s value proposition: as Africa’s largest economy, a cultural powerhouse, a democratic laboratory, and a strategic partner in shaping the future of Africa-Europe relations.

There is also the structural challenge of the EU itself.

Brussels can be a labyrinth of institutions, procedures, and regulatory processes. Diplomacy here requires patience, coalition-building, and sustained engagement across the European Commission, Parliament, Council, and a vast ecosystem of think tanks and policy networks.

In Brussels, influence rarely arrives quickly. But it rewards persistence.

A Citizen’s Charge

Ambassador Ayeni arrives at a time when Nigeria is increasingly articulating a vision of strategic autonomy in global affairs.

Nigeria does not seek charity. It seeks partnership.

The mission in Brussels therefore carries a clear responsibility: to ensure that when Europe debates the future of Africa; whether on energy, migration, technology, or development; Nigeria is not merely present in the room but actively shaping the conversation.

After more than thirty years living in this remarkable and complex country, my hope is to see an embassy that is as dynamic, confident, and forward-looking as the people it represents.

Brussels is often described as the heart of Europe. For Nigeria, it should also become a bridge to opportunity.

The stage is set.

Your Excellency, the floor is yours. Welcome to Brussels.

The Brussels Mission of Nigeria Must Become a Command Centre for Economic Diplomacy

by Collins Nweke

Belgium’s logistics power, Luxembourg’s financial strength, and the regulatory influence of the European Union make Brussels one of Nigeria’s most strategically important diplomatic postings. The challenge for Nigeria’s new envoy is to convert presence into economic and geopolitical influence. Because diplomacy today is no longer conducted only across negotiating tables, but across networks of trade, finance, technology, and people.

Diplomacy in the twenty-first century is no longer only about representation. It is increasingly about economic positioning. Nowhere illustrates this reality more clearly than Nigeria’s diplomatic mission to Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and the European Union.

For many Nigerians, Brussels may appear as just another European capital where Nigeria maintains an embassy. In reality, it is one of the most strategically consequential diplomatic platforms Nigeria possesses anywhere in the world.

From trade logistics to financial capital and regulatory influence, the Brussels mission sits at the intersection of three powerful European systems that directly shape Nigeria’s economic future.

Brussels as Nigeria’s Triple Strategic Gateway

Nigeria’s envoy in Brussels operates within what may best be described as a triple gateway to Europe.

Belgium: Europe’s Logistics Platform

Belgium hosts one of the most important maritime trade hubs in the world. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges serves as a key entry point for goods moving into the European market.

For Nigeria, this port represents more than maritime infrastructure. It is a strategic corridor through which Nigerian exports, from agricultural products to petrochemicals, enter the broader European economy.

A proactive diplomatic strategy in Belgium can therefore directly influence Nigeria’s trade competitiveness in Europe.

Luxembourg: Global Capital Markets

Luxembourg, despite its small size, is one of the world’s most influential financial centres. It hosts one of the largest global investment fund industries and plays a leading role in sustainable finance.

As Nigeria seeks to diversify its economy and finance infrastructure development, Luxembourg offers access to sophisticated financial instruments including green bonds, blended finance structures, and climate investment platforms.

For Nigeria, the Luxembourg dimension of the Brussels mission represents an opportunity to connect diplomacy with global capital markets.

The European Union: Regulatory Powerhouse

The third pillar of the mission is the European Union itself.

EU policy decisions increasingly shape the rules governing global trade, digital markets, climate compliance, and supply-chain sustainability. Measures such as the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, for example, will have direct implications for African exporters.

Nigeria’s presence in Brussels must therefore go beyond ceremonial diplomacy. It must become an active platform for regulatory engagement and strategic dialogue with European institutions.

From Protocol Diplomacy to Economic Statecraft

If Nigeria is to maximise the strategic value of this mission, the embassy in Brussels must function less as a traditional diplomatic outpost and more as a hub of economic diplomacy.

Three areas deserve particular attention.

The Creative Economy Opportunity

Nigeria’s cultural industries, which include film, music, fashion, and digital media, have become global brands with strong commercial potential.

These sectors should be positioned within European markets not simply as cultural expressions but as high-growth investment ecosystems capable of attracting venture capital, distribution partnerships, and technology collaboration…

Economic diplomacy must learn to speak the language of culture as commerce.

Energy Transition and Climate Finance

Europe’s green transition is reshaping global energy markets. For Nigeria, the strategic challenge is to balance its role as a major natural gas supplier while also accelerating domestic renewable energy capacity.

Luxembourg’s financial ecosystem could provide a platform for structuring green financing instruments capable of supporting Nigeria’s long-term energy transition.

Handled strategically, diplomacy can help Nigeria convert climate pressure into investment opportunity.

Harnessing Diaspora Networks

Nigeria’s diaspora across Europe remains one of the country’s most underutilised strategic assets.

Highly skilled Nigerian professionals operate across European institutions, research centres, financial markets, and technology companies. Their networks represent a form of diplomatic capital that traditional embassies often fail to mobilise.

A forward-looking mission should treat the diaspora not merely as citizens abroad but as partners in economic diplomacy.

Five Strategic Priorities for Nigeria’s Brussels Mission

1. Trade Corridors

Deepen commercial engagement through the Port of Antwerp-Bruges as a gateway for Nigerian exports into European markets.

2. Financial Diplomacy

Leverage Luxembourg’s leadership in investment funds and green finance to support Nigeria’s infrastructure and renewable energy ambitions.

3. Regulatory Engagement

Strengthen Nigeria’s presence within EU policy conversations on trade, digital regulation, climate policy, and supply chains.

4. Creative Economy Promotion

Position Nigeria’s cultural industries—film, music, fashion, and digital media—as investment opportunities rather than cultural showcases.

5. Diaspora Economic Power

Treat the Nigerian diaspora in Europe as strategic partners capable of opening doors in business, academia, and policy networks.

The Narrative Challenge

Despite Nigeria’s economic scale and cultural influence, perceptions within Europe are often shaped by narratives centred on migration, governance challenges, and regional insecurity.

If Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement remains reactive, these narratives risk defining the entire relationship.

The more strategic approach is to reposition Nigeria as what it increasingly is: Africa’s largest economy, a major cultural exporter, and a critical geopolitical actor in West Africa.

This shift requires deliberate storytelling, sustained engagement with European policymakers, and strong partnerships with think tanks, business communities, and civil society networks.

A theme I explore in my recent book, Economic Diplomacy of the Diaspora, is that diplomacy in the twenty-first century must expand beyond state institutions to include networks of entrepreneurs, professionals, and communities operating across borders. Brussels provides precisely such an environment, where formal diplomacy intersects with business, finance, and diaspora influence. For Nigeria, leveraging these networks may prove just as important as the traditional tools of statecraft.

A Strategic Opportunity

Nigeria’s mission in Brussels stands at the crossroads of trade, finance, regulation, and diplomacy.

In many ways, it is less a conventional embassy and more a strategic command centre for Nigeria’s engagement with Europe.

The challenge now is to ensure that Nigeria’s presence in Brussels reflects the scale of its ambitions. When Europe debates Africa’s economic future, Nigeria should not merely be represented in the room. Nigeria should help shape the conversation.

Because in the diplomacy of the twenty-first century, influence is not measured only by embassies and protocol, but by the ability to turn networks into opportunity.

And few places offer Nigeria more opportunity to do so than Brussels.