2025 Africa Week Focuses on Call for Justice, Cultural Reawakening – Prof Agbo
Italy-based International Legal Consultant and founder of Internatuinal Bio-Research Institute, Enugu, as well as the Convener of Africa week, Prof. Edmund Ugwu Agbo has said the 2025 edition of Africa Week is all about renewed calls for justice, reparations, and a reassessment of Africa's relationship with the rest of the world.
Prof. Agbo stated this on Wednesday at a World Press briefing held at the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) Maitama, Abuja.
He said this year’s theme, “Justice for Africa and People of African Descent through Reparation”, echoed deeply across participants from Africa, Europe, and Asia.
According to him, the week-long event aims to spotlight Africa’s historical injustices and propose concrete paths toward genuine cooperation and independence.
“The opening session attracted global attention, with delegates coming from China, Ireland, the UK, France, and Canada – many of whom joined uninvited, driven by a genuine interest in African dialogue. Organizations from Cameroon, Congo, Italy, and various Mediterranean associations participated, signaling a growing international desire to engage Africa on more equitable terms.
“The event’s momentum builds on the success of previous editions, which helped attract global partnerships and digital education initiatives benefitting millions of Africans.
“Speakers voiced concern over the continent’s continued dependence on foreign systems — economic, political, and educational — emphasizing the need for Africa to reclaim its identity and destiny. ‘Africa is the mother of the world’, one speaker asserted, “but we survive only scantly, allowing others to define our fate.”
“The concept of “cooperation” was critically examined, with many arguing that Africa’s so-called cooperation with global powers often resembles oppression more than mutual progress.
Continuing, Prof. Agbo said, “The event also drew attention to the challenges African diplomats face abroad, including limited access to European political figures and neglect from host nations. Organizers shared instances where accredited African ambassadors were never granted audiences with heads of state during their entire tenures.
“If our ambassadors cannot meet presidents, but foreign counselors meet ours, something is deeply wrong,” one speaker noted.
“Due to visa appointment issues in Italian consulates, many African delegates were unable to attend the Rome segment of the event, prompting organizers to expand Africa Week activities on the continent itself. This year’s program includes blended discussions — both physical and virtual — on cooperation between Africa, Europe, and Asia”.
He said there are also plans to introduce more cultural elements, including traditional African dances, to emphasize the richness of African heritage.
“The two-day event will first hold in Abuja tomorrow at the main auditorium, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuj and the second day holds on Wednesday, 10 September, 2025 at Sala Giovanni XXIII, Vicariato di Roma, Casa Bonus Pastor, via Aurelia 208, Rome.
“Further more, participants proposed institutionalizing Africa Week celebrations across multiple African countries, starting with Nigeria as a central hub due to its population and existing infrastructure. Organizers also called for consistent funding and shared hosting responsibilities among African nations, with a vision to rotate the event across the continent.
“It’s time Africa stopped borrowing cultural robes and started wearing its own,” concluded Godwin Manuel, Secretary of the local organizing committee.
