Nigeria’s Senate President Godswill Akpabio issued a passionate call for urgent, concrete cooperation among Global South nations during his keynote address at the Third South-South Parliamentary Dialogue Forum on Monday. Speaking before an assembly of lawmakers from across Africa, the Arab world, Latin America and the Caribbean, Akpabio delivered a blistering critique of empty rhetoric and demanded immediate action to address shared crises.
“The time for beautiful speeches and empty declarations has passed,” Akpabio declared, his voice rising with intensity. “We stand at a precipice where economic instability, climate disasters and political conflicts threaten to consume our nations. Either we act together now with purpose and determination, or we condemn future generations to perpetual disadvantage in the global order.”
The Senate President’s urgent appeal came during the opening session of the two-day high-level forum, themed “Inter-regional and Continental Dialogues in the Countries of the South as a Fundamental Lever to Address Emerging Challenges.” Akpabio emphasized three critical areas demanding immediate South-South cooperation: economic integration to counter Western-dominated financial systems, coordinated climate adaptation strategies, and parliamentary alliances to strengthen political stability.
Morocco’s House of Councillors Speaker Mohamed Ould Errachid set the stage earlier with a powerful opening address highlighting the strategic Morocco-Nigeria partnership as a blueprint for South-South cooperation. “The depth of our bonds, built on mutual respect and shared destiny, must now become the foundation for broader continental action,” Ould Errachid stated, noting King Mohammed VI’s personal commitment to the forum’s success.
The gathering has drawn parliamentary delegations from dozens of developing nations, all facing similar pressures from climate change, economic instability and geopolitical tensions. Delegates are working through detailed sessions on:
- Establishing alternative financial architectures to reduce dollar dependency
- Creating joint climate adaptation funds and technology transfer mechanisms
- Developing parliamentary protocols for conflict prevention and resolution
- Building South-South digital infrastructure and knowledge-sharing platforms
Akpabio’s Nigerian delegation has been particularly vocal in pushing for binding agreements rather than voluntary declarations. “We cannot return home with another document full of nice words but empty commitments,” the Senate President warned during a closed-door strategy session. “Our people need electricity, food security and jobs – not more promises.”
As night fell on the first day, working groups were already drafting concrete proposals expected to include: a Global South parliamentary crisis response network, a pilot program for cross-continental renewable energy projects, and standardized protocols for intra-South trade facilitation.
The forum continues Tuesday with plenary sessions where delegates will debate and potentially adopt these action plans, setting the stage for what participants hope will mark a turning point in South-South cooperation – from dialogue to delivery.
