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Ubuntu As Africa’s Moral Compass: Healing Xenophobia, Restoring Dignity and Rebuilding Continental Unity
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By Tolulope A. Adegoke
The recent surge in xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa has once again exposed painful fractures in the ideal of African brotherhood. These incidents — marked by violence, looting, destruction of businesses, and loss of innocent lives — represent not only a humanitarian crisis but a profound moral failure that contradicts the very essence of what it means to be African. In the face of such division, the ancient African philosophy of Ubuntu offers a powerful, practical, and deeply human framework for healing, reconciliation, and sustainable unity.
Ubuntu, often translated as “I am because we are,” is more than a cultural expression. It is a complete worldview that affirms the interconnectedness of all people. It teaches that a person’s humanity is realised through their relationships with others, and that harming another ultimately diminishes oneself. In the context of xenophobia targeting Nigerians and other Africans, Ubuntu directly challenges the “us versus them” mentality and calls for a return to shared identity, dignity, and mutual responsibility.
Core Principles of Ubuntu in Relation to Xenophobia
- Interconnectedness: No African exists in isolation. The suffering of Nigerians in South Africa affects the dignity of all Africans. Ubuntu reminds us that an attack on one community is an attack on the collective African family.
- Human Dignity: Every individual, regardless of nationality, deserves respect and protection. Xenophobia violates this fundamental principle by dehumanising fellow Africans.
- Communal Responsibility: Success and security are collective. South Africans and other African nationals share common struggles — unemployment, inequality, and poverty. Ubuntu urges joint solutions rather than scapegoating.
- Reconciliation and Restoration: Harm must be acknowledged, justice served, and relationships restored. Healing requires both accountability for perpetrators and systemic reforms that address root causes.
- Harmony and Shared Destiny: True progress emerges when communities live in balance, recognising that Africa’s strength lies in unity, not fragmentation.
How ECOWAS, AU, SADC and Other Bodies Can Intervene
Regional and continental institutions have a critical role to play in providing structured, legitimate, and sustainable responses to xenophobia.
ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) As the primary regional body for West Africa, ECOWAS should:
- Establish a standing Joint Task Force on Migration and Social Cohesion with South Africa to facilitate dialogue and monitor tensions.
- Develop and enforce a Regional Migration Management Protocol that protects the rights of legal migrants while addressing irregular migration.
- Support skills-transfer and joint investment projects between member states and South Africa to reduce “push” factors of migration and demonstrate mutual economic benefit.
African Union (AU) The AU should elevate xenophobia as a continental concern by:
- Convening emergency sessions of the Peace and Security Council to treat xenophobia as a threat to African unity.
- Developing an African Citizenship and Mobility Charter that promotes legal, rights-based migration and integration.
- Strengthening the Continental Early Warning System to detect rising xenophobic sentiments and enable timely diplomatic intervention.
- Facilitating high-level mediation missions and reparative dialogue between affected countries.
SADC (Southern African Development Community) As the immediate regional bloc:
- Lead internal dialogue and mediation within Southern Africa to address cross-border tensions.
- Promote harmonised border management and labour mobility policies.
- Invest in joint infrastructure and human development projects that visibly demonstrate the benefits of regional solidarity.
Other Relevant Bodies
- The United Nations (through UNHCR and IOM) can provide technical support for humane migration management and protection of victims.
- The African Development Bank can fund large-scale regional projects that create shared prosperity and reduce migration pressure.
- Civil society, faith-based organisations, and the African diaspora should lead grassroots reconciliation and awareness campaigns.
Practical Solutions Aligned with Ubuntu
To transform Ubuntu from philosophy into action, the following multi-sectoral solutions are recommended:
Education Sector
- Integrate Pan-African history, shared heritage, and migration studies into school curricula across South Africa and the continent.
- Establish joint South African–Nigerian cultural and academic exchange programmes to build personal connections from a young age.
Economic Sector
- Develop joint business cooperatives and value-chain projects in agriculture, trade, and small enterprises involving both South Africans and migrants.
- Create government-backed township entrepreneurship funds that prioritise inclusive models benefiting legal foreign nationals and locals alike.
Governance and Leadership
- Publicly and consistently condemn xenophobia while addressing legitimate local grievances through transparent dialogue.
- Create national integration councils with representatives from South African communities and African diaspora groups.
Media and Public Communication
- Highlight positive stories of African cooperation, migrant contributions, and shared success.
- Partner with civil society for Ubuntu-inspired awareness campaigns promoting “One Africa, One Destiny.”
Youth and Community Engagement
- Organise cross-border youth leadership and entrepreneurship summits.
- Support community sports, arts, and cultural festivals that bring South Africans and other Africans together in celebration.
Global Relevance and International Standards
The fight against xenophobia in South Africa aligns with international human rights standards, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (particularly Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Solutions must therefore meet global benchmarks of human rights protection, rule of law, and inclusive development while remaining rooted in African agency and ownership.
A Balanced Conclusion: Ubuntu as Africa’s Moral Compass
Xenophobia is a betrayal of African humanity. It weakens the continent’s global standing and delays the realisation of a united, prosperous Africa. However, through the deliberate and consistent application of Ubuntu — in education, economy, governance, media, and community life — South Africa and the broader continent can heal these wounds and build something stronger.
Ubuntu does not deny legitimate grievances. It simply insists that solutions must honour the dignity of every African. When leaders model it, institutions embed it, and citizens live it, xenophobia will lose its appeal. Africa’s greatest contribution to the world may not be its resources, but this timeless philosophy that reminds us: our humanity is bound together.
The path to lasting peace does not require perfection — it requires commitment. With courage, honesty, and collective will, South Africa and Africa can move beyond xenophobia toward genuine solidarity. The world is watching, and history is waiting. The time to choose Ubuntu is now.
Dr. Tolulope A. Adegoke, AMBP-UN is a globally recognized scholar-practitioner and thought leader at the nexus of security, governance, and strategic leadership. His mission is dedicated to advancing ethical governance, strategic human capital development, resilient nation building, and global peace. He can be reached via: tolulopeadegoke01@gmail.com, globalstageimpacts@gmail.com
Gunmen suspected to be bandits on Tuesday reportedly invaded a school in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, kidnapping the school principal, four students, and an ad hoc National Examinations Council (NECO) staff member.
The development was disclosed recently by a counter-insurgency and security analyst covering the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama.
According to him, the incident occurred at a school identified as Government Secondary School (GSS) while students were sitting the ongoing NECO examination.
The armed assailants allegedly stormed the school premises at around 5.25 pm while candidates were in the examination hall.
Makama said: “They abducted four students alongside the principal of the school and an ad hoc NECO official before fleeing to an unknown destination.”
He went on to report that a combined security team immediately launched bush-combing operations, intelligence gathering, and surveillance across the area to locate the kidnappers’ hideout and rescue those still in captivity.
Makama further noted that security sources had confirmed one of the abducted students had been rescued, while efforts had been intensified to secure the release of the remaining victims.
He concluded that investigations into the incident were ongoing as security agencies tried to restore normality to the area.
A local Islamic teacher in Kano State, Kamal Abdulmumini, risks being sentenced to life imprisonment if found guilty of the alleged rape of four siblings.
Abdulmumini, a tutor at Alhadid Nursery and Primary School, Ungogo Local Government Area is accused of raping twin sisters and two other females, all siblings in the area.
When brought before Justice Suleiman Baba Na Mallam on Tuesday, the prosecutor Barrister Abdullahi Mohammad alleged that the defendant had sexual interactions with the four sisters on different occasions in his office.
The prosecution counsel, who doubles as Director Public Prosecution (DPP) in Kano State Ministry of Justice, told the court that he has five witnesses who are ready to testify on the alleged criminal act.
However, the arraignment eventually stalled when defense counsel, Barrister Nasir Abdurrahman, requested access to facilities and other relevant documents to enable him to prepare his defense.
The defense counsel insisted that until he was granted access to those vital records and evidence, it may be difficult for justice to be served, just as he sought the court to grant his request.
Although, the prosecution counsel did not object the request of the defense, Justice Na Mallam ordered the prosecution to provide the defendant with the necessary materials related to the case.
The court thereby adjourned the matter to October 13 and 14, 2026, for the arraignment and subsequent hearing of Kamal Abdulmumini.
Section 126 of Kano state Penal Code clearly spells out the conditions that can be considered for finding someone guilty of rape. Subsequently, section 127 of the same provisions clearly identified penalties for any one find guilt of rape to include minimum of 14 years imprisonment and maximum of my life in jail without fine.
However, the same offence under the Shari’a Penal Code of Kano State, if found guilty attracts death penalty by stoning.
Hydrogen Payment Services Company Limited has reinforced its commitment to community impact through an employee-led blood donation drive in partnership with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) and Gbagada General Hospital.
Held recently, the initiative extended this year’s World Blood Donor Day campaign, themed “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives.” It brought together Hydrogen employees in a collective effort to strengthen blood reserves for patients across Lagos State.
The drive recorded strong participation, with employees voluntarily donating blood to support critical healthcare needs, including emergency care, surgical procedures, maternal health, sickle cell treatment, and assistance for accident victims. The contributions will help bolster the state’s blood bank and improve access to life-saving interventions.
Medical teams from LSBTS and Gbagada General Hospital supervised the exercise and engaged participants on the importance of regular voluntary blood donation.
They also addressed common misconceptions, reinforcing the role of consistent donors in maintaining a safe and adequate blood supply.
Dr. Folashade Tawak, Senior Medical Practitioner with the Lagos State Government, commended the initiative
“Voluntary blood donation remains one of the most impactful ways individuals can contribute to saving lives. We commend Hydrogen for driving this initiative and encouraging active employee participation. Efforts like this are critical to sustaining the blood reserves needed for patients in urgent need,” she said.
Fiyinfoluwa Olorunsola, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Hydrogen, said the initiative reflects the company’s broader purpose.
“At Hydrogen, our responsibility goes beyond building payment infrastructure. We are committed to making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.
This drive brings our people together around a cause that directly saves lives, and I am proud of the culture we are building, defined by purpose, compassion, and service,” she noted.
Also speaking, Obinna Ojekwe, Head of Marketing and Communications, highlighted the personal impact of the initiative: “While we enable the seamless movement of value every day, this initiative allowed us to give something more personal. Knowing that a simple act can save lives makes this deeply meaningful, and it reflects the kind of organisation we are proud to be part of.”
The blood donation drive underscores Hydrogen’s commitment to creating value beyond financial transactions by empowering its employees to contribute meaningfully to society. It forms part of the company’s broader 2026 employee volunteering and CSR programme, with additional community-focused initiatives planned throughout the year.
About Hydrogen Payment Services Company Limited Hydrogen Payment Services Company Limited (Hydrogen) is Africa’s institutional payments infrastructure partner, enabling financial institutions and large organisations to process, move, and settle payments at scale with trust and operational integrity.
Through resilient, Africa-focused infrastructure, Hydrogen helps institutions manage payment complexity, improve efficiency, and deliver reliable services across the continent.
