President Bola Tinubu made a resounding arrival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Thursday night, setting the stage for the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government. Greeted by high-ranking dignitaries—including Ethiopian Deputy Chief of Protocol Eshetu Legesse, Foreign Minister Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, and Nigerian charge d’affaires Amb. Nasir Aminu—Tinubu’s entry underscored Nigeria’s unwavering influence on the continent.
In a briefing that extended into the early hours of Friday, Ambassador Tuggar detailed several diplomatic triumphs. Notably, Amb. Bankole Adeoye secured re-election as AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, while Nigeria maintained its coveted seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council—an emphatic testament to the nation’s resolute commitment to continental peace and security.
The briefing, attended by key figures such as Finance Minister Wale Edun, Defence Minister Abubakar Badaru, Trade and Investment Minister Jumoke Oduwole, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, and Information Minister Muhammed Idris, among others, set a robust tone for the summit. This year’s AU gathering, themed “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” pivots on reparatory justice and racial healing.
Looking ahead, President Tinubu is poised to deliver a pivotal address at the summit-level meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council, where pressing security challenges—including the escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo—will be scrutinized. His agenda also includes critical discussions on health financing, the creation of an Africa Credit Rating Agency, and climate change.
President Tinubu is scheduled to return to Abuja on Monday, leaving behind a legacy of determined leadership and strategic diplomacy in Addis Ababa.
