Changing World Order: Varsity Dons Urge Strategic Global Engagement

Funmi Ogundare

University professors and political analysts, yesterday, stressed the importance of African nations adopting pragmatic global strategies that will prioritise their interests .
They made this known during a webinar on ‘Donald Trump’s Presidency: Implication for Africa, African Diaspora and World Peace’, organised by the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in collaboration with the Department of Political Science, Fountain University, Osogbo.
A Professor of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU), Ile-Ife, Femi Mimiko expressed concern over the neglect of Africa during Donald Trump’s first term, noting his lack of engagement with African countries.
He emphasized that Africa must pursue strategic relationships, particularly through platforms like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and BRICS, to navigate a rapidly shifting global landscape.
“Global dynamics are shifting rapidly, and Africa must be prepared to assert itself strategically in the emerging order,” he stated.
He commended Nigeria’s current foreign policy, which focuses on strengthening ties with Europe and China while advancing regional economic integration.
Mimiko who is the former Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba- Akoko, Ondo State, criticised Trump’s confrontational stance with global powers, including China and Europe, warning that such isolationist policies risked damaging the global economic system.
He further stressed the inevitability of globalization, stating that no country, including the U.S., could thrive in isolation.
“The American economy thrives within a globalised system, and isolating it would be akin to cutting off the waters in which it swims,” he stated
Dr. Abdulfattah Adesina Raji of the Political Science Department, Fountain University, Osogbo, highlighted the complexities of global peace in an era of shifting power dynamics.
He commended China’s growing engagement with Africa, but cautioned about potential tensions with western powers as China’s influence in the region expands.
He however warned of the potential for rivalry between Western powers and China as the latter continues to expand its influence in Africa.
“China has a clear business plan in Africa, and Western nations may attempt to counterbalance this growing influence,” he stated.
Raji also emphasised on the role of Islam as a cultural force and how western misunderstandings of it fuel conflicts, particularly in the Middle East.
“Islam is not just a religion; it is a culture and a civilisation,” he said. “The western world has historically sought to suppress Islam, seeing it as a challenge to their global order.”
Dr. Dapo Thomas, a senior lecturer of the Department of History and International Relations, Lagos State University ( LASU), expressed concerns about the potential impact of Trump’s policies on global trade and peace efforts.
The former Senior Special Assistant on Policy Formulation and Programmes to President Bola Tinubu, urged Nigeria to leverage the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to strengthen its economic ties with the U.S., particularly in light of the challenges facing the country’s textile industry.
“This program, passed in 2000, presents a great opportunity, but Nigeria has failed to capitalise on it, especially as our textile industries are struggling,” he stated.
He warned of potential disruptions to trade and investment in Africa if the U.S. withdraws from key agreements or shifts its policies. “The $1 billion investment recently made by the Biden administration in Angola could be at risk,” he cautioned, while expressing hope that such commitments might deter abrupt changes.
Earlier in his remarks, a Professor of History and Director of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Siyan Oyeweso explained that the Centre uses cultural initiatives to promote peace and unity. He noted that the Trump administration’s global stance would have far-reaching consequences, particularly for international relations and peace.