By Zainab Bakare
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has renewed Nigeria’s call for permanent African representation on the United Nations Security Council, urging Europe to build a more balanced and strategic partnership with Africa as global geopolitical tensions continue to reshape international relations.
Speaking at the Geopolitics Panel of the Portugal EurAfrican Forum 2026, themed “How Will Africa and Europe Navigate Global Geopolitical Turmoil?”, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the changing global order demands stronger Africa-Europe cooperation based on mutual respect, shared responsibility and common interests.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the minister stressed that Africa should no longer be viewed solely through the prism of humanitarian challenges or resource extraction. Instead, she said the continent should be recognised as a strategic global partner with immense human capital, abundant natural resources, expanding markets and a rapidly growing innovation ecosystem.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu identified four key priorities for strengthening Africa-Europe relations. These include accelerating industrialisation through infrastructure development, technology transfer and regional value chains; enhancing cooperation on peace, security and counter-terrorism; promoting a fair climate partnership backed by increased climate financing and technology sharing; and reforming global governance institutions to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities, including granting Africa a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
She noted that Nigeria’s foreign policy under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is anchored on strategic engagement, economic diplomacy, regional stability and mutually beneficial international partnerships.
The foreign affairs minister also urged African countries to pursue greater strategic autonomy by engaging global powers from a position of confidence, guided by their national and continental interests rather than external geopolitical rivalries.
She concluded by calling for a new era of Africa-Europe relations built on genuine partnership rather than dependency, saying a relationship driven by trust, innovation and shared responsibility would better position both continents to tackle global uncertainty and foster a more peaceful, prosperous and inclusive world order.
