African leaders urged to resist foreign dictatorship

African leaders have been urged to protect their sovereign autonomy, with warnings that failure to do so could leave the continent perpetually dependent despite its vast natural endowments.

This admonition was given recently at the strategic policy workshop held at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of General Muhammed Muritala, Nigeria’s former Head of State.

Eghosa Osaghae, Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) said that it is time Africans reclaimed their assertiveness on the global stage, arguing that Africa is no longer an appendage of world powers but an emerging centre of influence in a multipolar world.

Commenting on General Muritala’s historic speech that Africa has come of age, which was delivered on January 11, 1976, at an Obafemi Awolowo University extraordinary summit in Addis Ababa, Osaghae noted that indeed Africans must tackle their challenges with local solutions, adding that continued dependence on foreign aid would not yield positive outcome.

According to him, when General Muritala said Africa had come of age, he was saying to the world, “don’t think Africa is an appendage anymore. Don’t think Africa is what you like to put today as a copycat”.

He added that, “to say Africa has come of age is actually to put on the stamp the meaning of strategic autonomy. And I just say that Africa has become its own voice, its own master. Africa has now insisted that it must only follow tracks and tractions that are determined by Africa for Africans.”

On her part, Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, lauded her father for his commitment to Pan-Africanism, noting that, elevated the status of Nigeria and Africans on the global stage.

She described her father’s popular saying that “Africa has come of age,” as a rallying cry that continues to resonate in Africa’s pursuit of unity and independence in international affairs.

Muhammed-Oyebode noted that the event was organised to serve as inspiration for young Africans to embrace careers in diplomacy, governance, and international development in order to address the challenges facing the continent.

Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor of Political Science and former Nigerian Minister of External Affairs, described the late Head of State as a man of several parts.

He said that Murtala Muhammed was recognised for bringing out the pride in Nigeria, whose efforts in governance are unparalleled.

“To say that Africa has come of age is not a declaration of perfection, but a recognition of responsibility,” Akinyemi said.

He noted that coming of age demands a critical examination of  Nigeria’s political maturity, economic resilience, institutional strength, and cultural confidence. “It requires confronting unfinished business from independence and asserting Africa’s clarity and confidence in global affairs.”

Speaking during a panel session, Joshua Bolarinwa,  Deputy Researcher at the NIIA, argued that Africa is yet to fully realise the vision of self-reliance and courageous leadership articulated by the late general nearly five decades ago.

The event was jointly organised by the Muritala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) and NIIA.