Nigeria Calls for Stronger Africa–Latin America Alliance at CELAC Forum

By:Michael Mike

Nigeria has urged deeper cooperation between African and Latin American nations, stressing that stronger partnerships among countries of the Global South are essential to navigating growing global uncertainty and building more balanced international relations.

Speaking at the CELAC–Africa High-Level Forum in Bogotá, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, called on leaders from both regions to intensify collaboration in key sectors including technology, agriculture, education, energy and culture.

Community of Latin American and Caribbean States — commonly known as CELAC — is a regional organization that brings together countries from Latin America and the Caribbean to promote political dialogue, economic cooperation, and regional integration.

Tuggar, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the gathering, described the forum as a timely opportunity for Africa and Latin America to redefine their role in a rapidly changing global landscape. He praised Colombian President Gustavo Petro for convening the meeting at a moment marked by geopolitical tensions and economic disruptions across the world.

According to the minister, the consequences of global conflicts and instability are increasingly felt by developing nations, even when such crises occur far beyond their borders. He therefore urged countries in both regions to take a more coordinated approach in shaping international outcomes that promote peace, economic resilience and shared prosperity.

Tuggar said Africa and Latin America must strengthen their collective voice in global affairs to challenge systems that have historically disadvantaged developing economies. He emphasized that stronger South–South cooperation could unlock new opportunities for trade, innovation and sustainable development.

Highlighting Nigeria’s priorities for deeper engagement, the minister pointed to growing prospects in agriculture, solid minerals, renewable energy and emerging technologies. He also stressed the need for both regions to actively participate in the development of transformative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, warning that the Global South must not be left behind in the next wave of technological advancement.

Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to international cooperation through initiatives such as the Technical Aid Corps, which has deployed Nigerian professionals to Caribbean countries for nearly four decades. He said the programme reflects Nigeria’s broader commitment to strengthening ties with partners across Latin America and the Caribbean.

On economic cooperation, the minister highlighted Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest market and underscored opportunities for investment in agro-processing and food production. He noted that Nigeria is implementing policies aimed at achieving food self-sufficiency while expanding fertiliser production to support farmers and boost agricultural output.

Beyond economic ties, Tuggar also stressed the importance of cultural exchange and creative industries as powerful tools for deepening connections between the two regions. He called for expanded collaboration in arts, education, digital innovation and intellectual property development.

Addressing wider global challenges, the minister advocated stronger joint action on climate change, improved healthcare access and increased technology transfer to developing countries. He also reiterated Nigeria’s position on the need for greater accountability in addressing illicit financial flows from developing economies and renewed calls for historical reparations linked to the legacies of slavery and colonialism.

The CELAC–Africa High-Level Forum, organised under the framework of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, brought together leaders and senior officials from Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa from March 20 to 21 to explore ways of strengthening political, economic and cultural cooperation between the two regions.

Tuggar concluded by urging participants to seize the moment to build stronger interregional partnerships capable of unlocking economic potential and advancing a more equitable global order.

Nigeria Calls for Stronger Africa–Latin America Alliance at CELAC Forum

CSO Condemns Alleged Sexual Violence Against Women at Ozoro Festival, Demands Justice

By:Michael Mike

A civil society organisation, Speak Out for Justice Advocacy (SOJA), has strongly condemned the alleged sexual violence against women and girls during a cultural festival in Ozoro, describing the reported incident as a grave violation of human rights and Nigerian law.

In a press statement issued on Sunday, the organisation said it was deeply disturbed by reports that women and young girls were stripped, publicly humiliated and sexually assaulted during the festival, which allegedly took place on March 19.

SOJA said that although authorities have reportedly made arrests in connection with the incident, the seriousness of the allegations requires urgent, transparent and decisive action to ensure justice for the victims.

The organisation noted that if confirmed, the acts would amount to criminal offences under Nigerian law and also represent a breach of the country’s international human rights obligations to protect the dignity and safety of women and girls.

“No cultural practice, festival or traditional expression can justify sexual violence, degradation or the violation of bodily autonomy,” the statement said.

SOJA cited several international human rights instruments that protect women from violence and degrading treatment, including the United Nations-backed Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

It also referenced the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Maputo Protocol, which affirm the rights of women to dignity, safety and protection from all forms of violence.

According to the organisation, Nigeria’s domestic legal framework equally prohibits such acts, citing provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, which criminalise sexual assault, degrading treatment and psychological abuse.

SOJA stressed that the alleged actions, if proven, represent sexual violence and gender-based abuse, cruel and degrading treatment, and a failure of protective state mechanisms.

The organisation warned against attempts to justify violence against women under cultural or traditional practices, stressing that culture must operate within the limits of law and human dignity.

“Any cultural practice that strips women of dignity is unlawful, unconstitutional and unacceptable,” the statement added.

The group called on the Federal Government, the Delta State Government and law enforcement agencies to ensure the thorough and speedy prosecution of all suspects already arrested, while also identifying and prosecuting other perpetrators and accomplices.

It further demanded immediate medical, psychological and legal support for victims, as well as an independent inquiry into the incident and the systemic failures that allowed it to occur.

SOJA also urged authorities to strengthen enforcement of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act across the country and to work with traditional institutions to eliminate harmful cultural practices.

The organisation recommended the establishment of preventive monitoring mechanisms for public festivals and gatherings to prevent similar incidents in the future.

SOJA’s Executive Director, Hameed Jimoh, in the signed the statement, said the events in Ozoro should serve as a turning point for stronger accountability and national reflection on the protection of women’s rights.

He stressed that the dignity, safety and bodily integrity of every woman and girl must remain non-negotiable.

“Justice must prevail,” he said.

CSO Condemns Alleged Sexual Violence Against Women at Ozoro Festival, Demands Justice

ECOWAS@50: Liberian Students Honoured for Essays on Youth Entrepreneurship and Regional Integration

By: Michael Mike

Students in Monrovia, Liberia, have been honoured for their contributions to a regional essay competition organised to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The awards ceremony, organised by the Office of the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Liberia, celebrated outstanding undergraduate essays examining the role of young people in driving development and strengthening regional cooperation across West Africa.

Launched as part of the ECOWAS@50 anniversary activities, the competition invited university and college students to reflect on the theme, “Youth Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for National Development and Regional Integration.” Organisers said the initiative was designed to stimulate intellectual engagement among young people and encourage them to think critically about their role in shaping the future of the region.

In total, 40 essays were submitted by students from tertiary institutions across Liberia, offering diverse perspectives on how youth-led enterprise could contribute to economic growth, job creation and deeper integration among West African nations.

At the ceremony, Samuel R. Watkins of the University of Liberia emerged as the overall winner, receiving a $1,000 prize for his submission. The second-place award went to Daniel Isaac-Sie Jr. of African Methodist Episcopal University, who received $700. Organisers announced that the two winning essays will also be published in national newspapers with online platforms to broaden public engagement with the ideas presented.

The event attracted a distinguished audience that included ambassadors of ECOWAS member states accredited to Liberia, university presidents, and representatives from the Ministry of Education of Liberia, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Liberia, and the National Commission on Higher Education of Liberia.

Speaking at the ceremony, Josephine Nkrumah, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Liberia, commended the students for the depth of thought reflected in their essays and encouraged them to continue using writing as a platform for civic engagement and policy influence.

She emphasised that empowering young people to participate actively in national and regional development remains a key priority for ECOWAS, noting that youth voices are essential in shaping policies that drive economic transformation and social progress.

Nkrumah also urged participants who did not win to remain committed to intellectual pursuits, describing the competition as a learning experience that should inspire greater academic and creative efforts in the future.

The competition forms part of broader activities marking 50 years since the establishment of ECOWAS in 1975, as the regional bloc continues to promote economic cooperation, integration and shared prosperity among its member states. Organisers say initiatives that engage young people are critical to sustaining the vision of a more integrated and economically vibrant West Africa.

ECOWAS@50: Liberian Students Honoured for Essays on Youth Entrepreneurship and Regional Integration