Scholars and policy experts have urged African countries to look inward and reposition strategically in order to remain relevant in today’s rapidly changing global order.
The call was made on Thursday in Lagos at a strategic workshop held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed.
The workshop, themed “The Africa Coming of Age Dialogue Series,” was jointly organised by the Murtala Mohammed Foundation and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
It brought together senior scholars, policymakers and thought leaders to assess Africa’s political, economic and institutional trajectory, fifty years after Murtala Mohammed’s declaration that “Africa has come of age.”
Speaking at the event, Director-General of the NIIA, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, identified unrestrained globalisation as a major factor undermining Africa’s self-confidence and development drive.
According to him, many African countries have become overly dependent on external solutions, rather than building capacity from within.
“We started to think that our solutions will come from the outside and not within anymore; we must learn to believe in ourselves. Africa is a centre of power,” Osaghae said.
Former Minister of External Affairs and renowned diplomat, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, reflected on the life and leadership of the late General Murtala Mohammed, describing him as a courageous, disciplined and humane leader whose impact endured beyond his seven-month rule.
Akinyemi challenged Nigeria’s current leadership to draw lessons from Murtala Mohammed’s legacy, particularly his strong Pan-African orientation, which he described as a school of thought deserving deeper study and revival.
Organisers said the dialogue was designed to go beyond remembrance, providing a platform for evidence-based debate, inter-generational engagement and policy-relevant insights on Africa’s role in the contemporary global system.