Senator Ned Munir Nwoko has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to championing a unified African voice in the global campaign for reparations and the repatriation of looted cultural assets.
This renewed pledge came as he hosted African ambassadors and diplomatic representatives at a high-level consultative forum in Abuja.
The forum, convened by the Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation, chaired by Senator Nwoko, brought together envoys from across the continent to deliberate on strategies for collectively addressing the enduring legacies of slavery, colonial exploitation, and the plundering of Africa’s cultural heritage.
In a statement shared via his official Facebook page, Senator Nwoko described the meeting as a pivotal step toward confronting Africa’s painful history and asserting a united demand for justice.
“I had the honour of welcoming African Ambassadors in Nigeria to a consultative forum organized by the Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation,” he wrote.
“Together, we examined our shared historical traumas and explored unified approaches to seek restitution, repatriation, and long-overdue justice for centuries of injustice.”
Senator Nwoko stressed that the issue of reparations has moved from the margins to the mainstream of Africa’s diplomatic and moral agenda.
“Reparations are no longer a fringe conversation,” he said. “They now lie at the heart of Africa’s global assertion—morally grounded, and diplomatically urgent.”
Addressing the diplomats, he commended their solidarity, noting that their presence “signifies a shared resolve that Africa must boldly confront the legacies of its past.”
The Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation was established to spearhead Nigeria’s legislative and diplomatic initiatives aimed at seeking accountability and redress from former colonial powers.
The committee also aims to foster continental cooperation in the pursuit of cultural restitution and financial compensation for historical wrongs.
The Abuja meeting marks the beginning of wider consultations across the African continent, with upcoming engagements to include historians, legal experts, civil society actors, and traditional leaders.
Senator Nwoko emphasized that unity is key: “Africa must speak with one voice. This is more than a political mission, it is a moral imperative to restore our dignity and secure justice for generations past and future.”
The forum received strong support from participating diplomats, many of whom pledged to work closely with Nigeria to forge a continental consensus on reparations and repatriation.
