December 03, (THEWILL) – President Bola Tinubu has called for the Nigeria-South Africa strategic partnership to serve as a model of leadership, economic integration, and shared prosperity for the African continent.
Speaking at the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission in Cape Town on Tuesday, Tinubu urged both nations to overcome “irritants” hindering their collaboration and focus on transforming Africa’s global image.
The Nigerian leader, who co-chaired the session with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, emphasised the vital importance of cooperation between the continent’s two largest economies.
He highlighted the potential this partnership holds to redefine Africa’s global standing.
Tinubu also urged South Africa to champion the continent’s interests during its G20 presidency, reaffirming Nigeria’s aspiration to join the bloc alongside South Africa and the African Union.
“The continent looks up to us; we cannot afford to fail it. We need to leverage the potential of this partnership to strengthen economic, political, business-to-business, and people-to-people relations between our countries. This is crucial for the tremendous benefits it promises,” Tinubu said.
He continued, “Our successes will change the negative narratives about Africa, which has long been seen as a continent mired in poverty and conflict, with leaders unable to offer transformational leadership.”
Addressing the challenges in their partnership, Tinubu acknowledged the need to remain vigilant against both overt and covert hostilities that their success might attract.
“Let us stay united in purpose,” he added.
Reflecting on the achievements under the BNC, which was established 25 years ago, Tinubu noted that despite setbacks, over 30 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements are operational.
However, he stressed the need for actionable implementation.
“Let us not count our successes by the number of MoUs signed. They will remain paper promises unless we implement them,” Tinubu said, urging senior officials to redouble their efforts in ensuring effective execution.
On the youth, Tinubu recognized Africa’s young population as a crucial resource for the continent’s future development. He urged for closer ties between Nigeria and South Africa to harness the potential of their youth.
“My administration has built an inclusive government where young people are now in charge of key sectors of the economy, believing that the future for them starts now. Let us connect Nigerian and South African youth to leverage their potential for development,” he said.
Tinubu also acknowledged the significant presence of South African companies like MTN and Multichoice in Nigeria, and Nigerian companies like Dangote Group and Access Bank in South Africa. However, he noted that there is still room for improvement.
“There are gaps and challenges in our relations, including persistent irritants. We must identify and deal with them. This is the essence of the BNC. Together, we can drive economic integration and development for our sub-regions and the continent,” he said.
He proposed joint action on mining to tackle illegal mining and enhance professional capacity development. He expressed concern that illegal mining, often sponsored by outside forces, robs African nations of vital income, causing environmental degradation and undermining governance.
“We cannot allow this inland piracy to hinder our development goals. South Africa and Nigeria must lead the way in addressing this issue on the global stage,” he stated.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s support for South Africa during the apartheid era, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s historic role in the liberation struggle.
He highlighted that Nigeria’s solidarity with South Africa in its time of need was a proud moment in the continent’s history.
“This is the essence of the brotherhood we seek in Africa—to stay side by side, shoulder to shoulder, for liberation and democratic good governance. Just as we stood with you, we will always remember how South Africa stood with us during our struggle against military rule,” he concluded.
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