The Bridge Club of Lagos is set to host its flagship end-of-year event featuring a high-level panel including celebrated anti-corruption advocate Prof. P. L. O. Lumumba, former Foreign Affairs Minister Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa. The speakers will lead a vital conversation on the theme “Xenophobia Contradicts Pan-Africanism,” exploring ways to strengthen unity across the continent.
The event will take place on 12 November 2026 at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Lagos.
Other participants include Prof. David Aworawo, Head of the Department of History and International Studies at the University of Lagos; Amb. Godwin Adakole Adama, former Consul-General of Nigeria in South Africa; and Prof. Bobby J. Moroe, Consul-General of South Africa in Nigeria.
Respected columnist and broadcaster Dr Reuben Abati will moderate the discussion.
Founded in Lagos in 2017 by a group of friends from diverse professional backgrounds, The Bridge Club of Lagos provides a platform for thoughtful dialogue on issues of national and international significance.
Through its annual gathering, the Club examines the implications of domestic and foreign policies for Nigeria and contributes to discussions on national development, international relations and foreign direct investment.
Speaking on this year’s programme, the President of The Bridge Club of Lagos, Mr. A. U. Mustapha, SAN, said the growing incidence of xenophobia demands urgent attention.
He said, “It is time to bring xenophobia to the forefront of public discourse before it further erodes African unity.
“Our Club seeks to bring together diverse perspectives and identify practical solutions to the growing hostility among Africans. We stood together in the struggle against colonialism. Having secured our hard-earned independence, we must confront the divisions that now threaten our shared progress.
“We have invited distinguished experts to examine the causes of xenophobia and recommend measures to make Africa a continent where all Africans can live, work and contribute without fear of hostility or discrimination.
“Our discussions will explore the economic, social and political factors driving these tensions. The resulting recommendations will be communicated to relevant governments and institutions to encourage meaningful action.
“Africa must rise together. We must reject bloodshed, maiming, looting, discrimination and hatred, and renew our commitment to the ideals of Pan-Africanism.”
What You Should Know
This event brings together some of Africa’s most respected voices to tackle the difficult issue of xenophobia—where people face hostility or violence simply for being from another African country. It is scheduled for November 12, 2026, at the Lagos Continental Hotel.
- Positive Impact: High-level discussions like this can lead to better government policies that protect Nigerians living abroad and encourage peaceful co-existence within the continent, which is essential for business and trade.
- Potential Concerns: The need for such a debate highlights that discrimination and hostility among Africans remain a serious threat to regional stability and the shared progress of the continent.
