Scholars call for global governance reform

China and Nigerian scholars, at a one-day seminar in Abuja on Thursday, on the Global Governance Initiative, have called for reforms to global institutions and a deepening of China-Africa cooperation. The event, themed “Opportunities for China-Africa Cooperation under the GGI,” offered a platform for both critique and advocacy regarding the current global order. Speaking at […]

China and Nigerian scholars, at a one-day seminar in Abuja on Thursday, on the Global Governance Initiative, have called for reforms to global institutions and a deepening of China-Africa cooperation.

The event, themed “Opportunities for China-Africa Cooperation under the GGI,” offered a platform for both critique and advocacy regarding the current global order.

Speaking at the seminar, the Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Dong Hairong, tied the GGI to a broader vision of international cooperation promoted by Beijing.

She said the initiative aims to create “a fairer and more equitable, inclusive international system” by focusing on “joint efforts of all the countries and multilateral mechanisms.”

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“GGI is expected to serve as a new platform and a new opportunity for reforming the global governance system and transforming the global order, which is beneficial to all the nations, including the global south,” the counsellor noted.

Hairong also expressed support for reforms at institutions such as the United Nations Security Council and international financial bodies, saying China is ready to cooperate with African countries to “correct the historical injustices” and address the underrepresentation of the Global South.

In his presentation, the Director of the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research, Professor Sheriff Ibrahim, criticised current global institutions for favouring a handful of dominant powers.

Ibrahim explained, “There is a need to involve representation of every continent, every region in the world as a member of the UN Security Council permanently. Why? Because we have just five permanent members of the UN Security Council. This means that there is exclusion in global governance from where? From the Security Council of the United Nations.”

He singled out what he described as the impunity of powerful nations in breaching UN resolutions.

On global finance, he called for reforms in the International Monetary Fund and the G20 to include the currencies and concerns of the developing world.

The Director of the Centre for China Studies, Charles Onunaiju, emphasised the importance of domestic capacity in shaping a nation’s role on the global stage, stating that without strong institutions and economic strength, African nations risk being sidelined.

Onunaiju noted, “You are either on the table or you are on the menu. How do you avoid being on the menu? It’s to build capacity to enable you to be on the table.”

He praised China’s capacity-building approach and its ability to follow through on initiatives, contrasting it with past Western-led development promises that failed to materialise.

He expressed confidence in the GGI’s long-term impact, suggesting that China’s capacity to support its initiatives makes the difference.