By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Nigeria’s unity, democratic integrity and Africa’s global standing took centre stage on Thursday as First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu and United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Amina Mohammed delivered stirring messages at the Leadership Annual Conference and Awards 2025 in Abuja.
The event, themed “Political Stability and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Increasingly Unstable Global System: A Roadmap for Nigeria,” attracted governors, lawmakers, diplomats, traditional rulers and senior government officials.
Receiving a prestigious award, the First Lady used the platform to call for national cohesion, warning that Nigeria’s future depends on collective resolve across ethnic, political and religious lines.
“The future of our nation depends on our willingness to work together across cultural and religious differences for the good of all. For a house divided against itself cannot stand,” Mrs. Tinubu declared.
She said she accepted the honour not as a personal achievement but as a shared recognition of service, dedicating it to women, youths and community leaders working tirelessly to uplift communities across the country.
“I do not take this honour alone,” she said, noting that selflessness and compassion remain essential to nation-building.
Mrs. Tinubu also commended the management of Leadership Newspaper for sustaining the vision of its late founder, Sam Nda-Isaiah, describing the organisation as a pillar of responsible journalism that strengthens democracy.
In her keynote address, Dr. Amina Mohammed shifted attention to the global stage, warning that rising geopolitical tensions and fractured international leadership are creating deep uncertainty and exposing Africa to fresh vulnerabilities.
She observed that major powers are recalibrating their strategies in pursuit of dominance, particularly over critical minerals vital for industrial and technological advancement.
“We see countries today wanting to be what they used to be before… and others saying ‘XYZ first.’ That is creating tension around the world,” she said.
According to her, Africa’s greatest weakness is not lack of resources but lack of unity, urging leaders to strengthen institutions from local governments to ECOWAS and the African Union.
“The African Union is our vehicle. It may not be perfect. It may be slightly broken. But it is ours — and we must fix it,” she declared, stressing that fragmented positions weaken Africa’s bargaining power globally.
She warned that with nearly 70 percent of Africa’s population under 30, excluding young people from meaningful participation would mortgage the continent’s future, and called for urgent reforms aligning education with labour market realities.
