By Muhammad Amaan
The 74th President of the United Nations General Assembly, Professor Tijjani Muhammad Bande, has called for a transformative agenda to position Africa as a key player in global development.
He made the call in a statement issued by Joi John, Co-Founder of the Belcrest Institute, on Wednesday.
Delivering his keynote address on Africa Day 2025, Bande presented a forward-looking vision for the continent’s future.
He discussed the theme “Africa Rising: Innovation, Heritage, and Hope” during his address at a virtual global forum hosted by the Belcrest Institute.
He emphasised Africa’s vital role in shaping the global order, stating, “Africa is not a passive participant in global affairs. We are contributors to world civilisations, past, present, and future.”
Tijjani Bande, a former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, highlighted the importance of Agenda 2063, the African Union’s strategic blueprint for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
He called for a renewed focus on self-reliance, democratic governance tailored to African contexts, and long-term investment in education, science, and innovation.
Underscoring the central role of Africa’s youth, he stressed the urgency of equipping the next generation to lead in key sectors such as agriculture, health, climate resilience, and diplomacy.
“Africa’s vast human capital must be empowered to drive structural transformation and global engagement on equal terms,” he said.
During the interactive segment of the forum, Bande addressed questions on democracy, migration, population growth, and regional peace and security.
“Migration is not alien to Africa. The real task is to build systems that make staying as viable and rewarding as going,” he noted.
On conflict and governance, he pointed to the ongoing crisis in Sudan and advocated for stronger, more coordinated interventions by the African Union and its regional partners.
He further emphasised the need for Africa to shape global responses to climate change and public health in ways that reflected its realities and priorities.
“This year’s event marks a renewed call to view Africa not just as a continent of challenges, but as a wellspring of innovation, culture, and potential,” Bande stated.
Africa Day Forum 2025, hosted by the Belcrest Institute, is part of the Institute’s mission to spotlight Africa’s evolving role in global discourse.
The forum brought together participants from across Africa and the global diaspora to reflect on the continent’s achievements, potential, and strategic pathways forward.
