The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has called on African nations to redefine their approach to international relations by prioritizing professionalism, integrity, and strategic foresight in global engagements.
Speaking at the ongoing African Bar Association (AFBA) Conference 2025 in Accra, Ghana, with the theme “Foreign Interest in Africa: Exploitation or Investment,” the NBA President emphasized that Africa’s progress and sovereignty depend largely on the quality of representation the continent sends to global decision-making tables.
In his goodwill remarks, the President stated that “African countries will not be exploited if we do not allow it.” He urged African governments to ensure that competent professionals, people of integrity who place national interest above personal gain, represent the continent in negotiations at the United Nations and other global platforms.
According to him, “The interdependent nature of modern economies has made it inevitable for African nations to transact across national borders. However, the nature of the agreements we enter into will determine whether we remain dependent or emerge as truly independent nations.”
He observed that weak institutional structures, self-serving negotiations, and short-term political interests have historically left Africa at a disadvantage in global partnerships. To reverse this trend, he called for a new era of transparent diplomacy rooted in sound legal frameworks and guided by professionals who understand the long-term implications of international commitments.
The NBA President also urged participants at the conference to use the opportunity of the gathering to make a collective commitment toward ensuring that Africa’s vast natural and human resources are harnessed to elevate the continent from the so-called “Third World” to a “First World” status.
He reiterated that genuine investment should empower citizens, strengthen institutions, and promote sustainable development, not perpetuate dependency or economic control.
He reaffirmed the NBA’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote equitable partnerships, ethical governance, and respect for the rule of law in his closing remarks where he noted that Africa’s transformation will only begin when Africans decide to take full ownership of their destiny.
