Legal scholar and international consultant, Prof. Edmund Ugwu Agbo, has reignited global demands for justice, reparations, and Africa’s cultural revival during the 2025 edition of Africa Week, calling for a new era of accountability and true cooperation.
Speaking at a World Press Briefing on yesterday at the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) in Maitama, Abuja, Prof. Agbo — founder of the International Bio-Research Institute and convener of the annual event — said the theme, “Justice for Africa and People of African Descent through Reparation,” reflects the continent’s deep-seated need to reclaim its narrative, dignity, and rightful place in the world.
“This is no longer a polite request,” Prof. Agbo declared. “It is an insistent demand rooted in centuries of injustice and present-day inequalities.”
The 2025 celebration, which blends high-level diplomacy with cultural expression, has drawn participants from China, Ireland, the UK, France, Canada, and several African and Mediterranean countries.
According to Prof. Agbo, many foreign attendees joined without formal invitation — a sign of growing global curiosity about African-led spaces of discourse and transformation.
He emphasized that Africa Week is evolving into a platform for continental introspection and international reckoning, addressing centuries of exploitation while mapping a new course based on mutual respect.
Several speakers criticized the current imbalance in global diplomacy and cooperation.
Examples were shared of African ambassadors stationed in Europe who, throughout their postings, were never granted meetings with heads of state — a sharp contrast to the preferential access foreign envoys enjoy in African nations. “That’s not diplomacy,” said one participant, “that’s a hierarchy of nations we must dismantle.”
The issue of continued foreign dependence — in politics, economics, and education — also took center stage. Speakers warned that as long as Africa leans on systems not designed in its interest, true liberation will remain elusive.
The event was partly impacted by visa appointment delays at Italian consulates, which prevented many African delegates from attending the Rome segment.
In response, Prof. Agbo and his team expanded the program within Africa, reinforcing the urgency of local ownership and participation.
Africa Week 2025 now features a hybrid format combining in-person and virtual conversations on global cooperation and reparative justice, as well as cultural showcases including traditional dances and heritage exhibitions.
The first session takes place tomorrow at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs auditorium in Abuja, while the second will be held on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, at Sala Giovanni XXIII, Vicariato di Roma, in Rome.
To ensure continuity, Prof. Agbo and other organizers are advocating for Africa Week to be institutionalized across African nations — with Nigeria as a proposed central hub.
They also called for shared funding and rotational hosting responsibilities to build a truly pan-African platform.
“We must stop asking for space and start claiming it — culturally, economically, and politically,” Prof. Agbo said.