Nigeria Must Unite to Lead Africa’s Renaissance, Utomi Tells Politicians
Nigerian economist and political commentator Pat Utomi has called on the country’s politicians to put aside their differences and embrace unity, arguing that Nigeria must take the lead in Africa’s broader renewal. According to THISDAYLIVE, Utomi made the appeal in remarks directed at the political class, urging them to recognise that the nation’s internal cohesion is inseparable from its capacity to drive continental progress.
The call taps into a long-running debate about Nigeria’s role on the African stage. As the continent’s most populous country and one of its largest economies, Nigeria is frequently identified as a country whose trajectory shapes outcomes far beyond its borders. Utomi’s invocation of an “African renaissance” echoes a strand of thought that has been prominent in pan-African discourse for decades, holding that the region’s future depends on stronger intra-African cooperation, institutional reform, and a renewed sense of shared purpose among its largest states.
Utomi, a professor of political economy and management who has been involved in various civic and political initiatives, has long argued that Nigeria’s diversity is an asset rather than an obstacle, provided that political leaders can channel it toward common national goals. His latest remarks, as reported by THISDAYLIVE, frame unity not merely as a domestic priority but as a precondition for the kind of continental leadership that African capitals and institutions have often looked to Abuja to provide.
Whether the appeal resonates in a political environment marked by intense competition and shifting alliances remains to be seen. For Utomi, however, the message is straightforward: a divided Nigeria cannot credibly champion Africa’s renewal, and the country’s political class must act accordingly.
Sources
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