……Demands Global Partnership Over Aid
Seoul, South Korea — the Nigerian’s government has called for a transformative partnership between Africa and South Korea to tackle pressing global challenges, with a strong emphasis on climate action, security, and health systems, rejecting aid dependency in favour of mutual investment and shared responsibility.
Speaking at the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Seoul, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, stressed that global crises such as climate change, pandemics, and insecurity require collective action beyond national borders.
Highlighting climate change as a critical priority, the Minister proposed the establishment of a Korea-Africa Green Energy Alliance, aimed at combining Africa’s vast renewable energy resources with Korea’s advanced green technology. She noted that although Africa contributes less than 4 percent of global emissions, it bears the brunt of climate impacts, citing the shrinking of the Lake Chad Basin and rising threats to coastal cities like Lagos.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu revealed that Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan targets net-zero emissions by 2060 and requires an estimated $410 billion in investment. She emphasized that Nigeria is not seeking aid but strategic collaboration to build future industries, including solar energy projects, battery value chains, and green hydrogen development.
On security, the Minister warned that instability in Africa—from terrorism in the Sahel to piracy in the Gulf of Guinea—poses global risks, including migration pressures and transnational crime. She called for enhanced cooperation with Korea in intelligence sharing, maritime security, and peacekeeping capacity, aligning with Africa’s goal of “Silencing the Guns” by 2030.
Addressing global health, she described Africa’s dependence on imported vaccines and medicines as “unsustainable,” advocating for a Korea-Africa Health Security Compact to support local pharmaceutical manufacturing and strengthen pandemic preparedness through technology transfer and joint investment.
The Minister also pushed for reforms in global governance institutions, arguing that the current international financial system is outdated and fails to reflect present-day realities. She urged stronger representation for Africa in key bodies such as the United Nations Security Council, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s position, Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared that the country seeks “partnership, not charity,” drawing inspiration from Korea’s rapid economic transformation. She described Africa as a continent ready for growth, driven by a young and determined population.
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She further called for a new era of cooperation rooted in equality and shared goals, urging both regions to confront global challenges together “not in hierarchy, but in partnership.”
The meeting marks a significant step in strengthening Korea-Africa relations amid growing calls for inclusive and sustainable global solutions.
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