By Sarafina Christopher, News Agency of Nigeria
What does it take to build a fairer world order?
For Africa and Nigeria, the answer may lie in a new vision unveiled in Tianjin, China, where President Xi Jinping launched the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit.
More than five decades after Africa’s decisive votes restored China’s seat at the United Nations in 1971, Beijing is now calling for reforms that echo Africa’s own long struggle for fairness sovereign equality, multilateralism, people-centered development, and real results.
President Xi stressed that the GGI is not designed solely to advance China’s interests but to mobilise collective action on challenges that cross borders.
“The future of humanity is shared, and global governance must reflect the voices of all nations, not only a select few,” he declared.
His words aligns deeply in Africa, where leaders and citizens have long argued that global institutions remain skewed against developing nations.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the initiative as “arriving at the right time,” pointing to climate change, digital inequality, and fragile supply chains as crises no single nation can resolve alone.
This urgency is especially pressing for Africa, with its 54 UN member states and the world’s largest concentration of developing countries.
For decades, the continent has demanded a stronger voice in shaping global rules particularly at the UN Security Council and the World Trade Organization.
Many see the GGI as a potential platform to advance these demands.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai emphasised that the GGI aligns closely with Africa’s own aspirations.
“Africa is not only a participant in global governance but also a major force driving global multi-polarisation,” he said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s importance, he added: “Nigeria is a vital partner in reforming international structures and in shaping the fairness and inclusivity that the GGI calls for.”
Nigeria has welcomed the initiative, describing it as a “timely and thoughtful contribution” ahead of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.
Officials noted that the GGI’s principles align with national development goals, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and Nigeria’s strategic autonomy.
With its recent entry into BRICS, Nigeria is now positioned to amplify Africa’s voice in shaping reforms in trade, climate governance and digital policy.
Dong Hairong, Counselor at the Chinese Embassy, described the initiative as “another public good that China has provided to the world.”
She noted that it complements the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative, forming “four pillars of China’s thought on how to build a community with a shared future for mankind.”
Dong stressed that the GGI embodies five core concepts: sovereign equality, rule of law, multilateralism, people-centred development, and real action.
“The initiative creates a new platform and a new opportunity for reforming the global governance system, which is beneficial to all nations, especially the Global South,” she said.
For Charles Onunaiju, Director of the Centre for China Studies, the GGI responds directly to the “obvious deficit in global governance” where Global South voices remain marginal.
“China has taken the bold step to bridge this lacuna,” he said.
Strengthening multilateralism and sovereign equality, he argued, “opens the way for a democratisation of international relations, giving equal weight to all states.”
Dr Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, stressed that Africa must seize the opportunity but do so pragmatically.
“Two things can be true at the same time. China wants a world where it will play a more determinative role, but also a fairer world for the rest of us. Africa must seize that convergence,” he said.
Drawing lessons from China’s transformation, he added: “China became rich and stable by solving its real problems through pragmatism. Africa must do the same if it hopes to leverage global reforms effectively.”
Dr Muhammad Sani of Baze University underlined how the GGI’s principles resonate with Nigeria’s push for fairness.
“It levels the playing field for developing nations,” he said, adding that Nigeria could emerge as a diplomatic leader and rule-setter on issues like climate policy and digital governance.
Observers believe Nigeria must now translate diplomacy into action.
Opportunities lie in expanding renewable energy, building digital innovation hubs, and leveraging its peacekeeping record to contribute to global stability.
Analysts argue that with the right policies, Nigeria could strengthen its leadership role and become a continental standard-bearer in aligning development goals with global reforms.
Africa’s quest for fairness in global governance is not new.
From the Group of 77 in 1964 to calls for a New International Economic Order in the 1970s, the continent has consistently argued that global systems are skewed.
With China now championing reform, African demands may carry new weight.
Still, challenges remain. Resistance from entrenched powers is expected, just as Africa’s earlier campaigns for economic justice were frustrated.
Yet the growing economic and demographic strength of the Global South, along with platforms such as BRICS, makes reform increasingly difficult to ignore.
As Amb Yu noted, the stakes are high. “Nigeria has both the responsibility and the capacity to work with China and other partners to make global governance more just and fair.
“This is not just about reforming institutions it is about shaping a shared future for mankind,” he said.
For Nigeria, the opportunity is clear. By 2030, it could consolidate its role as a diplomatic leader, a standard-setter in climate and digital governance, and a bridge between competing global blocs.
As a major Africa’s power, Nigeria’s response to the Global Governance Initiative has been brave and hugely forward-looking.
Just in about a few weeks after the proposal for the GGI, the federal government conveyed “its appreciation to the government of the People’s Republic of China for launching the New Global Governance Initiative”.
The statement by the Nigeria government noted that the launch of the GGI ahead of the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations is “timely and thoughtful contribution to ongoing efforts aimed at strengthening the international system.
As one of Africa’s largest economies and active participant in multilateral diplomacy, Nigeria views the GGI as a valuable platform for advancing shared priorities”.
And also further “recognizes the potential for alignment between the GGI and its national development objectives, principle of strategic of autonomy as well as the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063”.
The Global Governance Initiative offers a chance not just to demand inclusion but to actively shape the rules of the future.(NAN feature)
