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Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (1938–2025), one of Africa’s greatest literary minds and cultural visionaries, passed away today. His life’s work spanned fiction, theatre, political essay, and linguistic activism. It ignited generations and challenged empires. It gave voice to the silenced. In this ode, I reflect on his immortal legacy. Not as one who has died, but one who has transitioned into eternity.
The ink has not dried not on the pages of Petals of Blood, not in the margins of Decolonising the Mind, not in the hearts of those who first found themselves in your mother tongue.
Ngũgĩ, son of Kikuyu soil, you did not merely author stories you planted revolutions in syllables, sharpened consciences with prose, and made the pen a machete for the soul’s liberation.
Where others translated their hearts into foreign scripts, you reversed Babel with courage casting off colonial tongues and choosing Kikuyu, as one would choose to speak to God in the language of their mother.
You taught us that language is not neutral, that stories are not innocent, and that to write is to resist to breathe in captivity and still sing.
The prison could not silence you. The exile could not erase you. The critics could not define you. You were, always, your own genre a continent compressed into a single mind, a library walking barefoot among villagers, reading futures aloud in the marketplaces of the poor.
We read your fiction in our youth, awed by Weep Not, Child the sorrowed laughter of a betrayed generation. We taught your truths in Omu in Igbuzo to young minds, hoping they too would dream in African syntax, think in ancestral rhythms, and refuse to be ghosts in their own lands,
And we are greeted here and there with the outcomes.
Now they say you are gone. But Ngũgĩ, those who write with eternity in their quills do not die.
You have merely crossed over into that sacred place where Achebe drums, where Biko reasons, where Sankara strategizes, and Lumumba speaks unfiltered.
Your books stay open. Your thoughts are still breathing. Your mission unfinished but unstoppable.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, may your spirit now rest in the arms of ancestors who understand the weight you carried and the fire you lit.
And may we who remain, scribble in your shadow, write in your wake, and live the truths you dared to name.
You are not gone. You have merely become one with the story.
Today is Children’s Day, your day. Growing up in the 70s in Nigeria, it used to be a day filled with laughter. It was a time of celebration and the limitless dreams of our young minds. I am not sure if that is still the case with you. I sit far away in the Diaspora. From here, I think of you, beloved and beautiful children across our great nation. This, with a heart heavy with empathy but also glowing with unwavering hope.
I was once a child in Nigeria too. In some place called Igbuzo, in Delta State.
We played under the rain with the sun shining at the same time. Without fear. We roamed our wallless and gateless neighbourhoods freely. We went to public schools that fed both our minds and our bodies. Our textbooks may have been worn, but our teachers were driven. We recited our national anthem and pledge with meaning. We did this not as a ritual. It was a promise to a country. This country, for all its flaws, still gave us the gift of hope.
But I know, the Nigeria you’re growing up in is not the Nigeria I knew. Your childhood has been clouded by fear and scarcity. The leadership class seems too often to forget its duty to protect your dreams. We read that the Child Rights Act (2003) is now adopted by the 36 States. The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015) is also adopted by them. Fine! But the roads to your schools stay unsafe. Electricity is a privilege, not a right. And many of your schools are shadows of what they should be. They lack books, desks, even teachers sometimes. That reality breaks my heart. And yet, my dear children, I refuse to give up on you or on Nigeria.
You see, I look at your eyes, and I see fire.
I watch videos of school children dancing barefoot and still finding joy in rhythm. I hear of teenage inventors building drones from scrap metal. I read stories of children learning to code in overcrowded classrooms. These are not just anecdotes. These are signs. They are proof that you are not defined by your limitations, but by your boundless possibilities.
Yes, children in other parts of the world may have more tools. But you, my dears, have something even more powerful: resilience. You adapt, you rise, you find joy even when joy seems like a luxury. This is not a consolation. I know! It is a badge of strength. And as a dad once and now a granddad, as one who carries both the burden and blessing of watching from afar, I want you to know something essential:
You are not alone.
Many of us out here, Nigerians in the Diaspora and our friends, have not turned our backs on you. We are working in ways you may not see yet. We are building bridges across borders. We are advocating for a better Nigeria. We invest in education and technology. And we are dreaming of a nation that will one day match your talents with opportunities.
One day, you too will walk into classrooms with smartboards, not broken benches. You will drink clean water not from sachets, but from trusted taps. You will fly drones, code apps, write novels, do surgeries, build solar farms. Not abroad, but in Nigeria. This is not just wishful thinking; it is a vision already taking root.
So, on this Children’s Day, I say this with all the love of a granddad who sees you, hears you, and believes in you:
Never stop dreaming. Never stop learning. Never stop believing in Nigeria, even when Nigeria forgets to believe in you.
The Nigeria of your dreams is not a myth. It is your birthright. And together, across generations and continents, we will build it. Brick by brick. Voice by voice. Hope by hope.
Happy Children’s Day, precious ones. With pride and boundless love!
Collins Nweke
A Nigerian granddad in the Diaspora with faith in your future.
On the eve of Africa Day 2025, as I delivered my opening remarks prior to Professor P.L.O. Lumumba taking the stage as Keynote Speaker, I was reminded once more of the unfinished business of memory and justice. It was a poignant moment. Not simply because I share with Professor Lumumba a Belgian experience. His was brief, spending time in Ghent, a short drive from Ostend my adopted hometown, taking his doctorate. And mine becoming enduring having made Belgium home since the past three decades. Brief or enduring, we both carry the heavy legacy of a nation that refuses to reckon with its past.
Nine years ago, in May 2016, I introduced a motion in the Ostend City Council. The motion was to name a public square in honour of Patrice Emery Lumumba. Not as an act of provocation, but as an act of memory, justice, and hope. The motion sparked public debate. And with it, a flurry of reactions. Some were thoughtful, many spiteful, and a few, frankly, racist. One such reaction was based on an article on 20 May 2016 published in the Zeewacht newspaper about my motion. It was magnified on social media, dripped with cynicism and ignorance. It mocked my proposed “Lumumba Street” by listing a litany of dictators and insurgents as possible alternatives. It was more than a rejection of the proposal. It was a rejection of the very idea that history should be re-examined. That wounds should be acknowledged, and that the silenced should be heard.
The opposition I encountered then was significant. It lingers today. This resistance was rooted in what I have come to understand as false nostalgia. This is a sentimental yearning not for the Congo as it was. It is a longing for a time when its suffering under Belgian colonialism was comfortably ignored. This is nostalgia not for memory, but for amnesia. For a past airbrushed of its atrocities. And this brand of nostalgia is dangerous. It breeds indifference and erects barriers to healing. It also robs our children and grandchildren of the chance to learn the truth about the world they have inherited.
Naming a square after Patrice Lumumba is not about erasing Belgian heritage. It is about enriching it. It is about admitting, however late, that Belgium’s imperial footprint has left scars. It has left deep, painful, and still visible scars. But it is also about choosing to build monuments not to domination, but to dialogue. Not to silence, but to truth. Lumumba was more than the first Prime Minister of an independent Congo. He was the voice of a people long dehumanised and exploited, a pan-African beacon extinguished far too early. He was, undeniably, a victim of an international conspiracy in which Belgian complicity is no longer contested. To honour him in Ostend is important. The sea fittingly links Belgium to the wider world. It also does so symbolically. This would be a powerful gesture. It would be a gesture of reconciliation. It would say to our grandchildren: we no longer turn away. We confront, we acknowledge, and we grow.
I am the Patron of The AfrikaFora, convener of Nzuko2025. Yesterday, this event brought together Africans, Europeans, and global citizens under the theme “Sovereignty and Independence of African States.” I reiterated that governance is a continuum. Our past, glorious or grotesque, can’t be divorced from our current. I formally retired from Belgian party politics in December 2024. Still, I am confident in my colleagues like Silke Beirens, Sofie Cloet, Herman Lodewyckx, Natacha Waldmann, and Wouter De Vriendt. They continue to champion the values we collectively stood for, though I had the international development portfolio. Together, we understood that the Lumumba Square proposal was not about one man’s legacy. It was about Europe finding the moral courage to reimagine itself.
History has shown that symbolic gestures, when grounded in truth, have corrective and restorative power. Germany’s remembrance culture stands today not as a scar, but as a source of moral strength. South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, imperfect as it was, offered a framework for healing. Belgium too must find its way. A Patrice Lumumba Square in Ostend would be a step – modest, yes, but meaningful – towards that destination.
The battle for truth and justice is never truly won or lost. It is passed along, from generation to generation. I trust that the people of Ostend, and of Belgium, are ready to move beyond the comfort of false nostalgia. They are prepared to embrace the courage of historical responsibility.
It’s time. Let us name it: Patrice Lumumba Square.
In their trade relations with Nigeria, the economies of Belgium and Luxembourg have seen a remarkable evolution over the years. From a predominantly extractive and commodity-based trade model, there is now a shift to a more diversified and investment-driven partnership. We unscore three main clusters of evolution. First is the early trade era. Then followed by the expansion and diversification era, culminating in the era of consolidation and growth.
The Early Trade Era, which could equally be classified as Pre-2000s trade model was dominated by mineral and commodity trade. Given that Nigeria remained a key exporter of energy resources, Belgium and Luxembourg historically engaged with the economy through importation of crude oil and mineral products. During those early years, the foundation stones for basic manufacturing and consumer goods were equally laid.
Belgium, in particular, exported industrial equipment, chemicals, and consumer goods to Nigeria.
Decade of Expansion & Diversification: The 2000s – 2010s saw an upsurge in infrastructure and maritime investments.
Belgian companies, particularly in dredging, maritime services, and port management, expanded their footprint in Nigeria during this decade. More than any period, this era can rightfully be credited with the birth of deeper person to person relationship between Belgium and Nigeria. When the two giant duo of Jan De Nul and Deme Group, became involved in major dredging and port development projects in Nigeria, it was not envisaged that the young men they sent to the field will equally find love on the field. But that was exactly what happened. Inter-marriages between Belgian workers with Nigerian ladies was one of the unintended positive consequences of the trade relations. This increased the vested interest dynamics. Over the next decades, offsprings of these relationships may carry on to be the unofficial trade ambassadors of these economies.
Growth of agricultural investments and pharmaceuticals is another hallmark of the 2000s. Presco plc, a subsidiary of Siat s.a., a Belgian agro-industrial company, has been a dominant player in smallholder plantations of tree crops, mainly palm oil and rubber, and allied processing industries like palm oil mills, refining, soap making, and crump rubber factories. Similarly, SOCFIN Group, a Luxembourg-listed holding company, increased its presence in Nigeria’s palm oil and rubber industry, managing significant plantation operations. So too was pharmaceutical and medical sector growth as Belgium became a major supplier of pharmaceuticals. Initiatives to establish messenger Ribonucleic Acid or mRNA for short in vaccine production in Nigeria is another area of engagement. There is also the expanded use of dialysis machines, reflecting a commitment to future-proof and diverse investments. The use of trade missions as policy tool to interface business people was accentuated during this era. Business forums are strengthening bilateral cooperation, facilitating direct investments and partnerships.
The Post-COVID Era marks a defining period with sustainable trade. Belgium stands as the European Union’s largest exporter to Nigeria, underscoring its pivotal role in the bilateral trade landscape. The EU’s wheat trade pivot has seen Nigeria emerging as a major buyer due to shifting export patterns. It is notable that diversification is an intentional trend. While mineral products, particularly crude oil, have traditionally dominated trade, there is a concerted effort to diversify. Belgian investments in Nigeria have been expanding into construction, transport and logistics, food and beverages, port and maritime services, dredging, and fisheries.
Investment Trends for Belgium and Luxembourg Investors in Nigeria 2025 – 2035
As Belgium and Luxembourg deepen economic ties with Nigeria, it is recommended that investors focus on emerging high-growth sectors that align with Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda, regulatory shifts, and technological advancements. A Seven-Point Investment Agenda are trends to watch for the next decade.
1. Clean Energy & Renewable Investments
A gradual shift from Fossil Fuels to Renewables, one that takes the Nigerian idiosyncrasies into consideration is recommended. Belgium’s stricter fuel export regulations signal a move toward cleaner energy solutions. In this regard, in September 2024, Belgium implemented stricter regulations on fuel exports. This essentially limits the permitted sulfur content to 50 parts per million. The move, aligning with similar Dutch regulations, led to a significant reduction in gasoline exports from the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub to West Africa, including Nigeria. This appears to be compensated by the increasing investments in solar, wind, and hydro projects, presenting opportunities for Belgian and Luxembourg firms in renewable energy infrastructure. Partnerships with Nigerian stakeholders in off-grid solar solutions can help bridge the country’s energy deficit. Linked to this is Hydrogen & Green Fuel Technologies. As Europe pushes for green hydrogen, Belgian and Luxembourg firms can explore hydrogen production, storage, and export solutions in Nigeria.
Agro-processing and food export is set to be a lucrative sector to watch. With the EU shifting wheat exports westward, Nigeria’s demand for food processing technology is rising. Belgian expertise in agribusiness logistics, food storage, and mechanization can support Nigeria’s push for food security and export diversification. The foundation for Palm Oil and Rubber Investments has long been laid by actors like Luxembourg-based SOCFIN Group and Belgium-based Siat s.a. Other Belgian agribusiness firms should continue investing in sustainable palm oil and rubber plantations, leveraging Nigeria’s raw material base. Agri-tech & Smart Farming is poised to receive a boost in this decade op opportunities. Precision farming, irrigation systems, and biotech are crucial for boosting Nigeria’s agricultural productivity. This is where investment in AI-driven farming solutions and blockchain traceability comes in. The potential to enhance Nigeria’s export credibility in EU markets is juicy.
3. Infrastructure & Maritime Development
Seaport and logistics expansion beckons in Nigeria in the next decade more than ever before. With Jan De Nul and DEME Group, Belgium already has a domineering presence in Nigeria’s dredging, port management, and logistics. The next decade is likely to see operational expansion in Nigeria’s growing port infrastructure. Lekki Port as a critical deep-sea port and inland container depots will need foreign expertise. The decade up to 2035 should go down in history of Nigeria for smart logistics and warehousing solutions, powered by Belgian Investment in AI-driven logistics hubs and warehouse automation. This should help solve supply chain inefficiencies in Nigeria. As Nigeria seeks private sector involvement in road, railway, and airport expansions, Belgian and Luxembourg investors can participate in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) projects.
4. Digital Economy & Fintech Expansion
Being Africa’s financial technology leader, Nigeria with companies like Flutterwave and Paystack is attracting global investment and will attract more.Luxembourg’s strong financial sector can explore joint fintech ventures, payment processing innovations, and digital banking solutions.Linked to that is Blockchain & Cybersecurity.With Nigeria adopting blockchain regulation, Belgian and Luxembourg firms can introduce secure digital ID systems, e-governance solutions, and financial inclusion technologies.Nigeria’s growing e-commerce market represented by Jumia, Konga, and others is a space that Belgian tech companies can tap into by offering AI-driven logistics, digital marketing, and automation services.
5. Health, Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
The decade up 2035 might be a defining decade for Nigeria in its stride towards reducing dependence on imported medicine. Belgium’s strong biotech and pharmaceutical industry can invest in messenger Ribonucleic Acid or mRNA vaccine production, dialysis equipment, and medical supply chain innovations. Luxembourg’s digital health companies can introduce AI-powered diagnostic tools, mobile health apps, and telemedicine platforms. At the same time, Belgian firms like Protex Healthcare can step up partnership with Nigerian hospitals and healthcare providers to develop modern medical facilities and specialized treatment centers.
6. Mining, Rare Earths & Battery Materials
Nigeria holds untapped reserves of lithium, cobalt, and rare earth minerals. This is critical for Electric Verhicle (EV) battery production and supply chain. This offers potentials for Belgian and Luxembourg firms in battery technology and sustainable mining can secure early stakes in this sector. Similarly, investment in eco-friendly mining technologies can help Nigeria meet EU sustainability standards, enhancing exports to Europe and other markets.
7. Smart Cities & Real Estate Development
Lagos and Abuja are arguably the fastest expanding technology hubs in sub-Sahara Africa with smart city initiatives, and real estate developments. Belgian firms specializing in urban planning, green architecture, and smart energy grids can contribute to these projects. Not unimportant is the housing deficit that Nigeria is facing. Modular housing solutions and sustainable construction materials will be high-demand investment areas for builders from Belgium and Luxembourg.
Strategic Outlook and Business Forum Growth
Nigeria and Belgium / Luxembourg investors who focus on sustainable trade, regulatory compliance, and leveraging EU-Africa partnerships are the ones that will maximize business opportunities in these economies over the next decade. With trade dynamics between Belgium, Luxembourg, and Africa, particularly Nigeria, evolving towards diversification and sustainable partnerships, the development of deal brokerage tools in the form of business forums appears to be a logical outcome. By leveraging platforms like the Nigeria Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum and aligning with regulatory changes, these economies aim to enhance economic cooperation, address challenges, and explore new opportunities in various sectors beyond traditional mineral products.
(Being Opening Remarks by Collins Nweke, Patron of TheAfrikaFora on the occasion of: Nzuko2025 – Commemoration of Africa Week)
Distinguished Keynote Speaker, Prof. PLO Lumumba
Honourable guests
Esteemed speakers
Articulate moderator
Dear fellow Africans and friends of Africa
Welcome to Nzuko2025!
This is a special gathering that holds profound meaning as we commemorate AfricaWeek. At The AfrikaFora the traditional Africa Day marks our historical journey toward political independence. It also invites sober reflection on the future we must shape together. This perhaps explains why it became more than just a day event for us. It is fittingly a week long event.
As Patron of The AfrikaFora, it is both an honour and a solemn duty to open this important event. The AfrikaFora, as Convener, is not merely creating a platform for discourse. We are nurturing a Pan-African consciousness. We do this together with all of you. It is grounded in truth, dignity, and unapologetic ownership of our destiny.
The theme for Nzuko2025, “Sovereignty and Independence of African States”, compels us to move forward. We must look beyond the celebratory echoes of 1960s liberation. It encourages us to question the achievements of that era. We are dared to interrogate whether the political flags we hoisted back then have truly translated into sovereign agency. This translation is evaluated economically, mentally, diplomatically, and culturally. In this audience, today, we gather not to romanticize history, but to confront it. To question history and to forge the next chapter with clarity and courage. Have we truly secured the freedom for which our forebears paid the ultimate price? Or have we inherited symbols without substance: flags without power, anthems without autonomy?
In this context, we are deeply honoured. Our Keynote Speaker is a towering Pan-Africanist and a voice of moral clarity. He is a man whose intellectual fire continues to illuminate dark corners of complacency: Professor PLO Lumumba.
Permit me to share a personal reflection.
Professor Lumumba obtained his doctorate in Ghent, just a stone’s throw from where I speak to you from today. Belgium has been home to me for three decades, as it was for him briefly. I cherish that commonality that we share. But with that shared connection comes both a burden and a blessing. We both live with the reality of Belgium’s complex legacy in Africa. This legacy includes the imperial sabotage that silenced the original Lumumba. His name was Patrice Emery Lumumba. Our keynote speaker proudly bears this name. He honors it in his lifelong commitment to African freedom. Belgium was complicit in the violent erasure of a visionary leader. Yet today, from this very soil, I join you as Patron of The AfrikaFora to echo his vision anew. In doing so, I am undaunted and unapologetic.
Dear Professor Lumumba, your presence here today is not just symbolic. It is restorative. You remind us that Africa’s intellectual sovereignty must match its political aspirations. The AfrikaFora salutes your courage, your eloquence, and your steadfastness in reminding us that independence without sovereignty is illusion. Yours is a voice of prophetic clarity in these complex times. You are a true Pan-African luminary. Your words consistently summon us to abandon complacency. They urge us to reclaim the moral and intellectual sovereignty of Africa. Your body of work continues the legacy of your namesake: Patrice Emery Lumumba. Today, the flame burns in individuals like you, Professor. You speak truth to power. You provoke action where silence once reigned. The AfrikaFora and Nzuko2025 are proud to accept your light.
We are equally privileged by the presence of a remarkable lineup of thinkers and doers:
· Sheba Montserrat, whose work on Mental Sovereignty reminds us that the colonization of the mind must be the last frontier to be deconstructed.
· Dr. Martin Ejidike, who will walk us through African diplomacy and development midst the tremors of shifting global power dynamics.
· Benoît Feyt, who courageously explores What’s left of the Lumumbist vision. This is a question we must ask ourselves if we truly claim Pan-African lineage.
· Dr. Abu Bakarr Bah offers a global approach to the challenges of sovereignty. Africa does not operate in a vacuum, and neither do its struggles.
· Chinwe Abuwa, addressing health systems financing. It is the bedrock of a continent’s wellbeing. It is also a true test of independence in the era of pandemics and donor-dependence.
· And Trevor Garabali Palacio, who will stretch our thinking on autonomy and self-determination in the African diaspora. This is a timely exploration. Diasporic Africans seek rootedness without erasure.
· All of which, ably moderated by Hon. Dr. Vernie Barnes from the beautiful Island of Montserrat
The founder of The AfrikaFora deserves special recognition. Our Convener, Winifred Uloaku Gaillard, is an uncommon visionary thinker. She is a quiet and unassuming doer. Let me simply say, thank you for all you do for Africa.
Ladies and gentlemen, Nzuko means “gathering” in Igbo. In its deepest cultural sense, it signifies a gathering of minds and spirits. This gathering is to deliberate on matters of urgent common concern. That is exactly what we are here to do. And let us do so with honesty, intellectual rigour, and a sense of shared purpose.
As we begin this day of reflection and challenge, let us remind ourselves of a critical truth. Africa’s sovereignty is not a gift. It is a task reclaimed. We may not all agree on the path. However, we must remain steadfast on the goal. Our goal is a sovereign, dignified, united, and prosperous Africa.
I thank you for your presence. I thank you for your commitment.
Let Nzuko2025 begin.
Long live the spirit of Africa. Long live African sovereignty. Long live The AfricaFora. Thank you.
An Open Letter to the Honourable Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and Belgium (On the Occasion of the 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting of Foreign Ministers) by Collins Nweke | Brussels, Belgium 21 May 2025
Your Excellencies
The 3rd European Union–African Union Ministerial Meeting convenes today in Brussels. It has the commendable goal of advancing a 25-year-old partnership. I write to you not only as a Nigerian Diaspora leader and a Belgian of Nigerian roots. I also write as a bridge between two continents that share more than history, but a destiny.
The themes of today’s deliberations: peace, security, multilateralism, prosperity, and migration, are not merely policy points. They are lived realities for the millions of Africans in Europe and Europeans engaged in Africa. They speak to our aspirations. They equally touch on our anxieties.
A Personal and Collective Stake
I have lived the confluence of African resilience and European opportunity. I see the immense potential in the collaboration between Nigeria and Belgium. This potential exists both bilaterally and through the broader EU-AU frameworks. Yet, it is equally important to speak candidly about missed opportunities. This is particularly true in the realm of Economic Diplomacy. Much of the rhetoric has not translated into meaningful and inclusive outcomes.
Missed Opportunities
There has been goodwill on both sides. A leap forward occurred in the past three years. However, economic engagement between Nigeria and Belgium has still been far below its potential. Trade volumes fluctuate without a long-term strategic framework. Investment flows are lopsided. Dialogues around innovation, technology transfer, and capacity building often stall at pilot phases. Diaspora capital and expertise are underutilized assets in bilateral cooperation. They remain on the margins of structured economic diplomacy.
Belgium, with its expertise in green technologies, port logistics, and smart infrastructure, has much to offer a transitioning Nigerian economy. Nigeria, with its youthful population, creative industries, and vast market, is a gateway to Africa’s future. Yet our nations have not unlocked this constructive collaboration.
A Call for Bold, Pragmatic Collaboration
As Foreign Ministers, you hold the keys to fostering a new diplomatic architecture, one where trade and talent move together. An architecture where diaspora communities are institutional partners, and where prosperity is co-created, not simply negotiated.
A Two-Point Recommendation
1. Establish a Nigeria–Belgium Bilateral Economic Diplomacy Council This should be a structured, high-level platform. It should involve governments, the private sector, and diaspora stakeholders. It would move beyond trade fairs. This initiative would focus on sustained joint ventures and policy alignment. It would strategically target sectors like clean energy, agri-tech, and the digital economy.
2.Create a Diaspora Innovation and Investment Window Through embassies and missions, Nigeria and Belgium should jointly design programmes. These programmes should incentivize diaspora-led startups, skills transfer, and remittances. These remittances should be channeled into productive sectors. This is not charity. It is smart economics.
Conclusion
Excellencies, this is a moment to lead not from tradition, but from transformation. The EU-AU partnership must not only show a shared past. It must project a shared future. Nigerians in Belgium and Europe and Belgians in Africa are part of this future. Our governments should be partners in progress, not prisoners of protocol. As you deliberate on policies that will shape continents, I urge you to also listen to the diaspora. They are the voices of those who straddle both. We live the consequences of your decisions and embody the potential of your vision.
Respectfully yours
Collins Nweke Advocate for Fair EU-Africa Economic Relations | Senior Consultant Nigeria Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum
Romanians and the world are adjusting to the new reality of a new Centrist President, Nicușor Dan. This is a pivotal page in its democratic journey. The opportunity has arrived for the country to redefine its global role. Romania has opportunities not only within the European Union and NATO. It can also strategically reach beyond traditional partnerships. Nowhere offers more promise for such a recalibration than Africa.
Africa is not just a continent of needs. Africa is a continent of solutions. Africa has the world’s youngest population. It also has a rapidly growing consumer market and a digital leapfrogging ecosystem. Africa stands at the threshold of transformation. Yet Romania’s engagement with this vibrant continent is still minimal and mostly filtered through EU policies. It’s time to take ownership of an Africa strategy. This can be on Romanian terms, driven by its national Interests if such interests are broadly interpreted.
President Dan’s pro-European victory reaffirms the place of Romania in the EU family. But being pro-EU does not mean being EU-dependent. Strategic autonomy requires the confidence to build bilateral partnerships where national interests align. Africa is one such arena.
First step should be economic diplomacy. Romania’s strengths in green energy, agro-technology, civil engineering, and digital infrastructure are a natural fit for African development priorities. A Romania–Africa Economic Cooperation Forum can offer the institutional muscle needed to build trade links and promote Romanian SMEs abroad. Brussels based entities, like CBL-ACP Chamber of Commerce, can engage Romanian SMEs. They can mobilize these businesses and chambers of commerce for trade missions to Africa. Romania can offer credit guarantees through EximBank Romania. It can also give export incentives, prioritizing sectors like green energy, agri-tech, digital infrastructure, and civil engineering.
Second, education. Romania has long been respected for the quality of its scientific and technical education. A ‘Romania–Africa Knowledge Bridge’ could offer African students scholarships in Romanian universities. Joint research with African universities can be explored particularly in STEM fields.
Third, public health. Through a Romania–Africa Health Partnership, the country could export best practices in telemedicine, mobile clinics, and epidemic monitoring.
Fourth is Diaspora engagement. Romania’s demographic crisis is well-documented. A targeted mobility partnership with African nations can bring skilled workers to its shores. This is particularly relevant in caregiving, agriculture, and ICT. Similarly, Romania can develop a diaspora and migration engagement strategy with legal migration through bilateral labour agreements. This should be without prejudice to empowering African communities in Romania as economic bridges.
A fifth pillar is governance and democratic support. Within the EU framework and Romania’s post-communist experience in building institutions, could have value for African nations seeking similar transitions. They could consider the transferability of Romanian knowledge in this regard through closer parliamentary exchanges. A Romania–Africa Governance Exchange Platform is an idea worth exploring. Sharing Romanian digital governance models can be an asset for budding democracies in Africa.
Culture is the soul of diplomacy. A ‘Romania in Africa’ Cultural Season will introduce Africa to the country’s unique identity. It would feature Nollywood films, literature, music, and food.
To move from rhetoric to results, President Dan should consider appointing a Special Envoy for African Affairs. Expanding the diplomatic footprint is also important. Embassies must be established or reinforced in strategic capitals. These capitals include Abuja, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Accra, and Dakar. Additionally, Romanian Agency for International Development Cooperation (RoAid) should be refocused to focus on Africa.
Romania is often spoken of as a bridge between East and West. But Romania can also be a bridge between Europe and Africa, one built on fairness, partnership, and shared future.
The author, Collins Nweke is Senior Consultant with Nigeria Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Management of Nigeria. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Association of Research Scholars and Administrators. He serves on its Governing Council. He writes from Brussels, Belgium.
There is no gentler way to say it: Nigeria has failed its people. For too long, the world’s most populous Black nation has lurched from crisis to crisis. It is governed not by vision but by accident. Each election cycle has promised hope. But citizens end up with recycled mediocrity. Corruption remains institutionalized. Infrastructure is an apology. Public education is steadily crumbling. Private education is out of the reach of the public. Power supply is erratic. Insecurity is rampant. Poverty has deepened. The slap in the face is that a bloated elite still controls wealth. They laugh their way to foreign banks.
The facts are not debatable.
In 1960, Nigeria had a GDP per capita comparable to Malaysia. Today, Malaysia is a high-income economy while Nigeria wrestles with multidimensional poverty.
A nation blessed with oil has repeatedly faced fuel scarcity.
A country famed for its brilliant minds exports its best talents to build other nations’ economies. Meanwhile, its own system atrophies.
Insecurity has turned vast parts of the country into warzones. Bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers dictate the terms of life and death in these areas.
Nigeria has become a betrayal on an industrial scale. Successive governments, military and civilian, have largely mortgaged the country’s promise for personal gain or parochial interest. The trust between citizen and state has been broken, not once. But repeatedly, brutally, until the very idea of “nationhood” seems almost satirical. Nigeria is not, by any unbiased measure, living up to the title of “Giant of Africa.” At best Nigeria is a giant on its knees. A case study in wasted potential.
Despite all of these, Nigeria remains one of the most compelling paradoxes in human history. It is a country that refuses to die. Yes there is despair but Nigeria can’t die because of its competitive advantages shimmer with stubborn resilience:
A youth bulge that is unmatched: over 60% of Nigerians are under the age of 25. No other African nation has this concentration of energetic, digitally connected, fiercely entrepreneurial youth.
A diaspora that sends home over $20 billion annually. An economic army spread across the globe, investing not just money but ideas and influence back into the homeland.
Natural resources still abound: oil, gas, and solid minerals. Even more precious are the untapped riches of renewable energy—sun, wind, and water.
Nigeria is a cultural capital that is unrivaled. This is clear in music (Afrobeats), literature, fashion, and film (Nollywood). Nigeria is already a global power, albeit soft power.
A strategic geographical position that offers a gateway between West Africa and the global economy.
If leadership, real leadership, were to finally align with the people’s tenacity, Nigeria could pivot from basket case to beacon.
Not slowly. Not incrementally. Seismically.
The foundation of Nigeria’s rebirth must be brutal honesty and fearless reform.
We must stop flattering incompetence. We must stop rewarding theft with applause. We must stop allowing ethnic and religious divisions to be weaponized against the common good.
The new Nigeria will not emerge from the corridors of Abuja alone. It will rise from tech hubs in Lagos. It will rise from farms in Benue. It will emerge from classrooms in Enugu. It will rise from oilfields in Bayelsa and voting booths in Sokoto. It will rise when we place merit over mediocrity, innovation over inertia, service over selfishness. It will rise when the Nigerian passport becomes once again a badge of pride, not an apology.
We must envision a nation that is:
Governed by competence, not connections.
Fueled by industries of the mind, not just commodities of the earth.
Measured by how it treats its weakest, not just how it enriches its strongest.
This is not wishful thinking. It is a mandate that history demands.
For if Nigeria rises, Africa rises. If Nigeria remains broken, Africa’s own renaissance is delayed.
Nigeria is not irredeemable.
I may not say it out when often I hear that Nigeria is finished. But my mind loudly says: No, Nigeria is unfinished. I know that I hear it alone! But that is fine because I know that Nigeria is a story still being written. Stained, yes, but not beyond beauty. The nation has for so long been cursed. It has been cursed by bad leadership. But blessed with a greatness that no failed government can ever fully extinguish.
The time for excuses is over. The time for the rebirth has come.Nigeria must rise — not tomorrow, not someday, but now! And it will. Because the soul of Nigeria, though battered, remains unconquered.
The State of Diaspora Voting in Africa and Other Jurisdictions: A Comparative Analysis with Nigeria
Executive Summary Diaspora voting has gained considerable momentum worldwide. It is the right of citizens living outside their home country to take part in national elections. In Africa, while several countries have embraced diaspora enfranchisement, many, including Nigeria, stay either hesitant or stagnant. This background policy brief examines global and African trends in diaspora voting. It finds lessons Nigeria can learn. It also recommends a pathway for institutionalizing diaspora voting rights in Nigeria.
Introduction
The phenomenon of migration has expanded the footprint of national populations beyond territorial boundaries. It creates dynamic diasporas that influence politics, economics, and culture in their countries of origin. Recognizing their growing relevance, many nations have adopted diaspora voting to strengthen democratic participation and harness diaspora engagement. In Nigeria, constitutional and logistical barriers have hindered diaspora voting despite persistent advocacy. As the world moves toward more inclusive political systems, Nigeria risks marginalizing an important segment of its citizenry. An estimated 17 million Nigerians in the diaspora will be affected if reforms are not urgently prioritized.
Global Trends: Beyond Africa
Diaspora voting is more advanced globally than in Africa.
France: French citizens abroad have 11 dedicated seats in the National Assembly. Italy: Italians abroad elect members of Parliament directly from overseas constituencies. India: While India allows expatriates to vote, actual implementation is restrictive; physical presence at Indian polling stations is needed. Mexico: Mexican citizens abroad can vote in presidential elections via mail and, recently, online. United States: Americans living abroad can vote via absentee ballots for federal elections.
Key Insights Globally:
§ Most advanced democracies allow remote voting: absentee ballots, postal voting, online platforms.
§ Recognizing the diaspora’s economic power (e.g., remittances), many countries actively promote political inclusion as a bridge to investment and soft diplomacy.
The African Experience: Diaspora Voting Trends
Country
Status of Diaspora Voting
Notes
South Africa
Permitted
Diaspora votes in presidential elections at embassies.
Ghana
Permitted (since 2006)
Implementation is partial; technical barriers remain.
Kenya
Permitted (since 2013)
Limited to presidential elections; logistical issues persist.
Senegal
Fully Permitted
Diaspora elects legislators dedicated to overseas constituencies.
Mali
Fully Permitted
Diaspora voting well-integrated; dedicated diaspora seats in parliament.
Tunisia
Fully Permitted
Tunisians abroad elect their own representatives.
Nigeria
Not Permitted
Constitutional constraints; no enabling law.
“Key Insights from Africa:
§ Countries like Senegal and Mali not only allow diaspora voting but grant diaspora citizens dedicated legislative representation.
§ In most African nations that permit diaspora voting, it is often restricted to presidential elections due to logistical simplicity.
§ Implementation challenges remain (e.g., voter registration abroad, verification, cost management), but political will has consistently driven reforms.
Nigeria’s Position and Challenges
Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and the continent’s biggest recipient of remittances, receiving $20 billion annually. Still, Nigeria lags behind peers in diaspora enfranchisement.
Key challenges include
§ Constitutional Restrictions: Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution does not offer for external voting.
§ Lack of Political Will: Successive governments have expressed support but have neglected to push legislation or constitutional amendments.
§ Institutional Readiness: INEC’s ability to conduct credible elections domestically raises concerns about expansion abroad.
§ Logistical Concerns: Cost implications, voter verification abroad, security, and diplomatic coordination are cited as barriers.
Recommendations for Nigeria
1. Constitutional Amendment: Urgently focus on an amendment to allow external voting for presidential elections initially.
2. Legislative Framework: Enact enabling laws specifying the scope, procedures, and institutions responsible for diaspora voting.
3. Pilot Programs: Test diaspora voting in select countries with significant Nigerian populations (e.g., USA, UK, South Africa, Canada) during the next general election cycle.
4. Capacity Building for INEC: Invest in training and digital tools. Collaborate with embassies to ease diaspora voter registration and balloting.
5. Public Awareness Campaigns: Build trust and demand through education targeting both diaspora citizens and domestic stakeholders.
Conclusion
Diaspora voting is no longer a luxury but a democratic imperative in a globalized world. Nigeria’s failure to enfranchise its diaspora community contradicts its aspirations for inclusive governance and development. Comparative experiences from Africa and beyond show that the political, logistical, and constitutional hurdles Nigeria faces are surmountable. Overcoming them requires political will and strategic planning. Now is the time to act!
The author, Collins Nweke, was Chairperson Emeritus of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Europe from 2011 to 2013. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Management of Nigeria. He is also a Distinguished Fellow of the International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators. He holds a PhD (honoris causa) in Governance.
