Lumumba Advocates for Pan-African Solidarity, Emphasizes Need to Shed Colonial Mindset

Professor Patrick Lumumba, a renowned Kenyan scholar and legal expert, and former Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, emphasized the need for African nations to unite in order to put an end to xenophobic violence and achieve true independence, while delivering a lecture at an event marking the 50th anniversary of the University of Ilorin.

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Lumumba made this appeal in response to the recent surge in xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which have targeted foreign nationals, including Nigerians, and highlighted the need for unity among African nations to address such issues.

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Delivering a keynote address at the 2026 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yenagoa Branch, Lumumba stressed that Africa's future is contingent upon unity, self-awareness, and the strengthening of institutions, emphasizing that a united front is necessary to protect the continent's assets.

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Lumumba emphasized the importance of Africans re-examining their identity and breaking free from the legacies of colonialism, stating that "to discuss our future, we must first determine who we are and decolonize our minds", during his keynote address titled "Sustainable National Assets Protection in Africa: Opportunities, Risks and Regulatory Pathways".

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Meanwhile, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, advocated for increased investment in education as a means of laying the foundation for national reorientation and sustainable development, at the same event themed "Securing the Future".

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Ogbuku emphasized the need for Nigeria to critically examine its past mistakes in order to build a better future, stating that "in securing the future, we must also consider the past, as we have lost our way and need to rediscover our purpose".

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He also lamented the rising levels of corruption, attributing some societal vices to the negative influences of modern media culture, and stressed the need for value-based education, stating that "we must invest in the right education for our children, as Western culture has polluted our society, and only the right education can save our country".

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Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who chaired the plenary session, expressed support for education reform, highlighting the need to adequately prepare young Nigerians for the challenges that lie ahead.

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Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawaie, described Lumumba as a strong advocate of good governance, accountability, and Pan-African development, and urged legal practitioners to uphold discipline and professional ethics.

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The NBA Yenagoa Branch Chairman, Mr. Clement Kekemeke, also challenged lawyers to contribute more actively to national development, beyond their routine legal practice.