Africa’s Coming of Age: Professor Osinbajo highlights Africa’s Coming of Age and Murtala Muhammad’s Vision for Strategic Self-determination

Former Nigerian Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo highlighted Africa’s unfolding legacy, self-determination, and strategic potential, as he reflects on General Murtala Muhammad’s enduring vision for the continent, emphasizing Africa’s coming of age as a generational responsibility anchored in integrity, innovation, and bold leadership. 

Desk: Africa & Global Affairs
Date: 14 February 2026
Time: 14:00 WAT
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Author: Nokai Origin

Osinbajo stressed that Africa’s economic, technological, and governance trajectories demand informed, values-driven leadership, recalling the late Nigerian leader’s decisive reforms, continental advocacy, and foresight in shaping a self-reliant Africa.

He analyzed Africa’s evolving role on the global stage, linking contemporary continental opportunities to the exemplary leadership of the late Nigerian leader General Murtala Muhammad emphasizing General Murtala’s decisive reforms, anti-corruption measures, and Pan-African foresight created a template for self-determination and generational responsibility that remains instructive for today’s leaders.

By invoking Murtala’s transformative actions including the creation of new states, relocation of the capital to Abuja, and advocacy for African sovereignty, Osinbajo framed the continent’s current trajectory as a continuation of a historical mandate to assert strategic independence, safeguard resources, and shape Africa’s destiny on its own terms.

 

Honouring a Charismatic Legacy
Osinbajo recounted his personal experience learning of Murtala Muhammad’s assassination as an 18-year-old law student, describing the national shock and curfew imposed that day. He underscored Murtala’s courage in confronting corruption, challenging military privileges, and advancing governance reforms, arguing that such leadership embodies the integrity, vision, and decisiveness necessary to guide Africa in the modern era.

 

Africa’s Coming of Age
Linking Murtala Muhammad’s declaration that Africa “has come of age” to continental responsibility, Osinbajo argued that maturity is measured not by chronological markers but by agency, self-awareness, and capacity to influence outcomes. He challenged narratives of dependency and delay, insisting that Africa must harness its intellectual, economic, and natural resources to resolve its own challenges, assert strategic autonomy, and cultivate leadership anchored in values and purpose.

 

Economic Integration and Intra-Continental Innovation
Osinbajo highlighted Africa’s economic milestones, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), illustrating how the continent is moving beyond being a supplier of raw materials to actively building industrial capacity and intra-African trade networks. He cited examples of technological innovation, mobile money platforms, electric mobility ventures, and emerging unicorns, emphasizing that Africa is not only adapting but shaping global markets and asserting its voice with confidence.

 

Climate Leadership and Strategic Assets
Positioning Africa as a climate-positive actor, Osinbajo detailed renewable energy potential, critical minerals, and natural capital as strategic levers for sustainable growth. He highlighted green hydrogen projects, low-carbon fuel initiatives, and digital trade ecosystems, demonstrating how environmental stewardship and industrial innovation can enhance Africa’s geopolitical influence and long-term economic resilience.

 

The Call to Responsibility and Leadership
He further framed Murtala Muhammad’s legacy as a charge to current and future African leaders: to address challenges with courage and creativity, to exercise ethical governance, and to assert sovereignty in global affairs. 

Africa, he argued, has reached a stage of clarity and purpose; the task is not to question if the continent will rise, but to engage actively as a co-author of global development, leveraging integrity, innovation, and strategic foresight to secure the prosperity and true liberation of its people.

Tags: Africa, Murtala Muhammad, Yemi Osinbajo, Leadership, Pan-Africanism, AfCFTA, Climate Positive Growth, Economic Integration

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