March 04, (THEWILL) — President Bola Tinubu has dispatched a five-member delegation to represent Nigeria at the burial of American civil rights icon, Jesse Jackson, who died on February 17, 2026, in Chicago at the age of 84.
A statement signed on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to The President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, informed that the delegation, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, will formally deliver President Tinubu’s condolence message to the Jackson family and convey Nigeria’s solidarity with the people of the United States during this period of mourning.
Other members of the delegation include the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Special Presidential Envoy for Global and Pan-African Affairs, Brian Browne; and Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye.
In an earlier tribute, President Tinubu described Reverend Jackson as “a great friend of Nigeria and Africa”, recalling his unwavering opposition to apartheid in South Africa and his vocal advocacy for the release of Nelson Mandela and other leaders of the African National Congress.
The President also acknowledged Jackson’s role in mobilising international support for sanctions against the apartheid regime, describing his lifelong struggle for racial justice and human dignity as a source of inspiration across the globe.
The burial programme commenced on February 26 with a lying-in-state at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago, the civil rights organisation founded by Jackson. Memorial services were also scheduled in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., including a lying-in-state at the South Carolina Statehouse from March 1 to 5.
A “People’s Celebration” is slated for March 6 at the House of Hope in Chicago, while a private homegoing service will be held on March 7 at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Jackson, a two-time U.S. presidential candidate and prominent advocate for social justice, was widely regarded as one of the most influential civil rights leaders of his generation, leaving behind a legacy that resonated far beyond the shores of the United States.
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