NEWS LEVERAGE

President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for deeper inter-regional parliamentary cooperation among Global South nations, urging countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean to institutionalize legislative diplomacy as a core pillar of economic integration and sustainable development.

Delivering a keynote address at the South-South Parliamentary Dialogue Forum in Rabat, Morocco, Akpabio underscored the historic opportunity before the Global South, stating, “We are not the periphery of history; we are its next great chapter.”

He called on lawmakers across regions to move “from dreams to deeds, from promises to partnerships,” using parliamentary dialogue as the engine of transformation.

Akpabio highlighted the unique role of legislative institutions in confronting modern geopolitical and economic challenges. “Parliamentary diplomacy is no longer a passive extension of foreign policy,” he said. “It is now central to shaping trade, resolving conflict, and driving inclusive development.”

Citing Nigeria’s pivotal role, Akpabio detailed several initiatives led by Nigerian legislators on regional and global platforms:

At the Pan-African Parliament, Nigeria continues to champion the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through supportive legal and trade frameworks.

Within the ECOWAS Parliament, Nigerian leadership has spearheaded policies on the regional electricity market, the ECO single currency, and infrastructure financing.

Bilateral and multilateral legislative engagements with nations like Brazil, India, and South Africa have strengthened cooperation in agriculture, climate resilience, and education.

Nigeria has also promoted digital legislative transformation and e-governance to enhance transparency and citizen engagement.

Akpabio proposed the establishment of a South-South Legislative Council to institutionalize collaboration among parliaments of the Global South, ensuring sustained engagement on climate action, digital transformation, and financial autonomy.

He emphasized that economic integration must be “intentional, legislated, negotiated, institutionalized,” and urged countries to embrace AI, green industrialization, and autonomous financial systems to future-proof their development.