The global community is witnessing a new dimension in the pursuit of reforms and justice especially in the international institutions such as the United Nations Security Council and the international financial systems that marginalised Africa and the global South over the years.
The Global Governance Initiative (GGI) propounded by Chinese President Xi Jinping is at the forefront to rally support for the drastic change in the global institutions to reflect the real inclusivity that will engender peace, security and prosperity of all member countries rather than the current lopsidedness dominated by Western countries.
It was therefore apt to witness Nigerian and Chinese experts gather to expand discourse on the imperative to strengthen the GGI, which recently got the endorsement of the Nigerian government aimed at boosting global collaboration for the benefit of all.
This was the crux of a seminar organised by the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research and the Centre for China Studies, in Abuja on Thursday in which China reaffirmed its commitment to working with Nigeria and other African nations under the GGI to also boost the Global Development.
The GGI has been described as a new platform to reform global governance, address historical injustices, and give greater voice to the Global South in institutions like the UN Security Council and international financial systems.
During the seminar, Counselor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria, Mr. Dong Hairong, noted that the seminar on GGI with the theme “Opportunities for China-Nigeria Cooperation under GGI”, represents “another public good that China has provided to the world.”
Dong Hairong explained that the GGI, alongside the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), forms part of China’s vision for “a community with a shared future for mankind.”
“At a time of geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, and public health crises, the world needs a governance system that is fair, equitable, and inclusive,” the envoy said.
He added that Nigeria and African nations have shown strong alignment with these principles, stressing that China remains ready to partner with Africa to reform international financial systems, strengthen multilateral institutions, and amplify the voices of the Global South.
On the GDI, Dong said “The GDI embodies five core concepts: adhere to sovereign equality, abide by rule of law, practice multilateralism, advocate a people-centered approach, and focus on taking action. These principles have gained world recognition, and the Nigerian government particularly welcomes them.”
It was an engaging and scholarly discussion as the initiative is aligned with Africa’s development aspirations and Nigeria’s priorities as the new platform rallies Africa to push for reforms in global institutions.
On his part, the director general of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr. Joseph Tegbe, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the GGI by deepening cooperation between Nigeria and China.
He said: “At the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership office, we stand ready to work hand-in-hand with our Chinese counterparts to ensure this vision delivers concrete benefits for our people, for Africa, and for the rest of the world.”
He highlighted the practical value of the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) for Nigeria, describing it as a platform for tangible progress.
He said: “For our great country, Nigeria, the Global Governance Initiative is more than just a set of ideas it represents real opportunities.’’
Director of the Centre for China Studies, Dr. Charles Onunaiju called for a more strategic and action-oriented collaboration between Nigeria and China under the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), stressing that its success will depend on practical implementation, not rhetoric.
Onunaiju emphasised the importance of turning diplomatic frameworks into concrete outcomes.
“The Global Governance Initiative (GGI) will be tested in action, not just in words,”
“Nigeria and China must go beyond dialogue to initiate strategic collaborations that deliver actionable plans advancing the Initiative,” he stated.
He noted that Nigeria and China, strategic partners since 2005, already have an established inter-governmental committee a platform designed to facilitate dialogue on all areas of cooperation.
Onunaiju emphasized that the mechanism is well-positioned to integrate GGI discussions and proposed a targeted expansion of its mandate.
Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr Sam Amadi emphasised that while international initiatives like the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) are important, local leadership and internal reforms are even more critical for Nigeria’s economic transformation.
He pointed to China’s success not because of a favorable global order, but due to visionary internal leadership and a focus on techno-industrialization.
He further urged African countries, especially Nigeria, should learn from China’s internal strategies rather than relying solely on changes in global governance.
In his keynote address, Prof. Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, director of the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research, situated the GGI within historical and philosophical traditions of governance. He traced ideas of world order from Thomas Hobbes to Immanuel Kant, highlighting their relevance to today’s debates on sovereignty, peace, and cooperation.
According to him, “Global governance is not about one authority dominating the world; rather, it is about sovereign states, international institutions, and civil society interacting to find collective solutions to global challenges such as climate change, poverty, terrorism, and inequality.”
He maintained that current institutions like the United Nations Security Council, the World Trade Organisation, and the IMF require urgent reforms to include fairer representation from Africa and other underrepresented regions.
Prof. Udenta Udenta, director-general of the Africa Writers Institute, and Dr. Muhammad Sani of Baze University, in their separate interventions, argued that Africa cannot remain at the margins of global decision-making. “Africa must insist on greater representation in the Security Council and global financial institutions. The historical injustices of exclusion must be corrected if global governance is to be truly inclusive,” Prof. Udenta noted.
