RABAT, MORROCCO – Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, has called for the institutionalization of interregional parliamentary cooperation among Global South nations, emphasizing that such unity is both a moral obligation and a strategic imperative in navigating today’s global economic uncertainties.
Speaking at the South-South Parliamentary Dialogue Forum in Rabat, Morocco, Akpabio stressed that the Global South must not remain passive in the face of shifting global dynamics. “We are not the periphery of history; we are its next great chapter,” he declared.
The Senate President presented a keynote address titled “The Role of Inter-regional Parliamentary Dialogues in Enhancing Economic Integration and Shared Development Among Global South Countries – With a Focus on Nigeria’s Interventions.”
In his speech, Akpabio argued that inter-parliamentary dialogue is no longer a symbolic gesture but a functional tool for economic integration, legislative harmonization, and conflict resolution.
“Let us forge bonds that are stronger than geography, shape policies that are larger than politics, and build a future brighter than the past,” he said.
The lawmaker cited Nigeria’s active involvement in regional legislative platforms such as the Pan-African Parliament and the ECOWAS Parliament, where the country has led discussions on initiatives including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), regional electricity markets, and the ECO currency.
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“Parliamentary diplomacy must evolve from being a subset of foreign policy into a driver of regional development,” Akpabio insisted, adding that legislative houses have a duty to craft frameworks that reflect justice, equity, and sustainability for all partners involved.
He proposed the creation of a South-South Legislative Council to institutionalize dialogue and policy alignment between Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
This body, he said, would act as a permanent structure for engagement, capable of advancing shared legislative interests and fostering public-private partnerships across sectors.
Among other interventions, Akpabio highlighted Nigeria’s bilateral legislative engagements with Brazil, India, and South Africa in areas such as education, agriculture, and climate policy.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s push for digital transformation in legislative processes, calling for broader adoption of virtual parliamentary forums and e-governance systems to increase transparency and participation.
From a deontological standpoint, Akpabio framed parliamentary cooperation as a moral imperative, rooted in duty to citizens and future generations.
“Let it be said that through the bridges we built with dialogue and the laws we crafted with vision, we unlocked the gates of shared prosperity,” he concluded.
Participants at the forum included lawmakers and delegates from over 20 Global South countries.
The event focused on enhancing South-South cooperation through legislative engagement, with particular emphasis on trade, sustainable development, and institutional capacity-building.
Akpabio reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to lead and unite in pursuit of a “living possibility”—a future defined by collaboration, resilience, and shared success.