By Joy Omagha Idam
Former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has called for a fundamental shift in Africa’s engagement with the global community, urging the continent to embrace strategic partnerships built on trade, investment, industrialisation, and institutional development rather than continued dependence on foreign aid.
Saraki made the assertion ahead of an international policy workshop in Lake Como, Italy, where he joined global leaders, policymakers, scholars, and strategic experts to deliberate on the future of international cooperation in an evolving global order.
The three-day workshop, organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), is themed “Big Daddy Gone? Global Partnerships Without U.S. Leadership.” It brings together experts from across Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, and Latin America to examine emerging geopolitical realities and new models of international collaboration.
Speaking before the commencement of the conference, Saraki described the changing global landscape as an opportunity for Africa to redefine its place in international affairs.
“This is a question that will define the coming decade. What does global partnership look like when it is no longer led by Washington? For too long, Africa’s relationship with the world has been framed around aid. The real opportunity is partnership—trade, investment, and mutual interest that treat Africa as an equal, not a recipient. A shifting global order is not a vacuum to fear. It is an opening to build something better,” he said.
The workshop, which runs from June 29 to July 1, will feature Saraki as one of only two African participants among the 22 invited experts. He is scheduled to speak during the fifth panel session on Tuesday, where he will present Africa’s perspective on the topic: “Development Policies: Withdrawal of the United States from International Development — Opportunities and Challenges.”
His participation reflects his extensive experience in governance, public policy, and economic development, having served as Nigeria’s President of the Senate, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor of Kwara State, and as a private sector leader.
Saraki will share the panel with Dr. Paola Bautista de Alemán, Vice President for Training and Programmes at Primero Justicia, Venezuela, and Prof. Christian Leuprecht of the Royal Military College, Canada. The session will be moderated by Dr. Tilmann Feltes, Policy Adviser at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Germany.
The conference will also explore a range of strategic issues, including the future foreign policy priorities of the United States, Germany’s international partnership agenda, emerging global alliances, new defence partnerships, strategic interdependencies, and geopolitical shifts affecting the Western Hemisphere.
Participants at the workshop represent Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Israel, Italy, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Australia, India, Argentina, Venezuela, the Philippines, Chile, Liberia, and Poland.
Observers say the forum provides an important platform for Africa to contribute to global policy discussions at a time when international development priorities and geopolitical alliances are undergoing significant transformation.
Source: Press Statement issued by Yusuph Olaniyonu, Head, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office, Abuja.