society
Gavel in a Quiet Hand — South Africa Hands Over G20 Presidency to the United States in a Low-Key Exchange
Gavel in a Quiet Hand — South Africa Hands Over G20 Presidency to the United States in a Low-Key Exchange.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“In a subdued ceremony overshadowed by diplomatic friction and leadership absences, Johannesburg’s historic G20 closes with pressing questions about debt, climate and whether the Global South’s priorities will survive a U.S. presidency.”
South Africa’s moment as the first African country to hold the G20 presidency (a year-long opportunity to place the continent’s development challenges squarely on the global agenda) ended not with fanfare but with a quiet diplomatic exchange. The handover of the G20 presidency to the United States was conducted in a low-key ceremony at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria, reflecting an atmosphere of strained protocol and frayed trust between hosts and a recalcitrant partner.
That muted final act belies the substance of what South Africa attempted across its presidency year: to shift the G20’s attention toward the acute vulnerabilities of low-income nations; debt distress, climate adaptation finance, fair access to critical minerals and the industrialisation that creates jobs. South Africa’s presidency, which officially ran from 1 December 2024 until 30 November 2025, foregrounded the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability” and elevated an Africa-centred workstream through the G20 Africa Expert Panel chaired by Trevor Manuel.
Yet the handover was complicated by geopolitics. Washington’s decision to send a low-level delegation (a chargé d’affaires rather than a head of state or senior minister) and earlier threats by the U.S. administration to boycott parts of the summit turned the symbolic gavel exchange into a diplomatic tightrope. South African officials and commentators had signalled a preference for a discreet transfer to avoid escalation; both capitals publicly agreed to keep the ceremony understated. Still, the optics were telling: a gavel passed in a modest office, not on the summit stage, at the end of what was meant to be a historic African summit.
Why does the tone of a handover matter? Because presidencies shape agendas in tangible ways. South Africa used its term to push the G20 toward concrete measures on debt sustainability and energy-transition finance; priorities that speak directly to fragile economies across Africa and the Global South. The adopted leaders declaration in Johannesburg contained language urging more support for climate adaptation, for debt relief mechanisms and for financing pathways that do not deepen dependency. Those are not decorative commitments; they are lifelines for countries teetering under rising interest rates, climate shocks and shrinking fiscal space.
Trevor Manuel, who led the Africa Expert Panel, captured the seriousness of the moment: “A lack of cooperation between nations will only stagger progress for a shared global vision on growth and development.” His intervention (and the panel’s recommendations) were intended to lock the G20 into a programme that treats the economic fragility of poorer nations as central to global stability, not as peripheral charity. Whether that message will survive the baton-pass to the United States is the central unanswered question of the handover.
Independent analysts are blunt. Saharaweeklyng.com warned that South Africa’s debt focus will be “TESTED” once the United States assumes the chair, suggesting that a shift in priorities is likely when a presidency changes hands and when major economies return to centre stage. The concern is not hypothetical: G20 workstreams require political will and continuity; absent a champion in the White House, negotiations and financing mechanisms for debt relief and energy transition could stall.
This is not merely bureaucratic bookkeeping. Debt restructurings, climate finance windows and technical support for sustainable mineral value chains determine whether African economies industrialise on their own terms or remain suppliers of raw inputs. The Johannesburg declaration and the Africa Expert Panel’s report together presented a blueprint for mobilising international financial institutions (notably the IMF and the World Bank) toward large-scale instruments that could cushion vulnerable economies. Those proposals, if implemented, would alter the development trajectory of entire regions. South Africa’s presidency made that case with unusual moral urgency; the handover now places the future of those proposals at the mercy of shifting political winds.
There are broader diplomatic lessons here. First, hosting the G20 in Africa was a symbolic victory for multipolarity; an assertion that the Global South must have space to set priorities. South Africa’s leaders used the platform to highlight food security, critical minerals and technology for sustainable development. Second, the low-key handover underscores how fragile that assertion can be in the face of unilateral moves by major powers. If a presidency can be effectively downplayed by a boycott or downgraded representation, the multilateral norm of cooperative stewardship is weakened.
Though, let us not mistake formality for failure. Johannesburg produced an outcomes document that, while imperfect, enshrined new language on climate justice and debt relief that advocates can now hold future presidencies to account for. The G20 Africa Expert Panel’s recommendations (formally handed to President Cyril Ramaphosa in November and widely publicised during the summit) give civil society, African finance ministries and international partners a common text to reference in future negotiations. That institutional memory matters.
For South Africa and the African continent, the imperative is clear: CONVERT DIPLOMATIC SPOTLIGHT into INSTITUTIONAL LEVERAGE. That means two things in practice. One, African country must consolidate their proposals into measurable targets and funding requests that multilateral banks and creditor nations cannot easily ignore. Two, South Africa must insist that the incoming presidency fixtures (working groups, technical committees and follow-up mechanisms) include explicit timelines and funding commitments. The soft handover cannot become an excuse for policy atrophy.
The United States now inherits not only a gavel but also a public expectation: oversee a G20 that treats the Global South’s vulnerabilities as collective security risks. If Washington chooses to deprioritise debt relief and climate adaptation finance, it will not merely disappoint African governments; it will undermine the practical foundations of global economic stability. Conversely, if the U.S. presidency embraces the Johannesburg agenda even partially, it could demonstrate that G20 leadership transcends partisan domestic politics. That choice will have consequences felt in capitals from Pretoria to Lagos to New Delhi.
The low-key nature of the handover should not obscure the scale of what was achieved and what remains at stake. South Africa’s G20 year has left a record: a set of proposals, a leaders declaration that acknowledges Africa’s voice and an expert panel report that maps pragmatic pathways. The task ahead is to ensure that these instruments become action, not archive. As Trevor Manuel warned and as South African diplomacy has implicitly argued throughout this presidency, cooperation (not posturing) is the currency of global progress. The world now waits to see whether the United States will treat that currency as legal tender.
In the quiet room in Pretoria where the gavel changed hands, the photograph will be modest and the exchanges measured. But the stakes are anything but small. The next twelve months will test whether the G20 can be more than a theatrical passing of symbols or whether it can be an instrument that translates the moral urgency of Johannesburg into binding, financed commitments for those most at risk. South Africa has passed the baton. The world must now decide whether it will run with the agenda or let it fall.
Land grabbers invade FGC Kano…. Old Students
The Federal Government College Kano Old Students Association (FGCKOSA)
wishes to formally draw the attention of the President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to a deeply troubling
development involving the proposed concession of approximately 30 hectares of
land within Federal Government College Kano under a Public-Private Partnership
arrangement.
We state, with utmost concern, that this initiative represents a destruction of a
national educational legacy carefully built and handed over to the current
generation of leaders. Unity Schools were established as symbols of excellence,
integration, and nation-building. Any action that diminishes their integrity reflects
a troubling disregard for the power of education as a driver of national progress.
At a time when nations across the world are investing more in education
infrastructure and expanding capacity, it is deeply alarming that we are instead
dismantling and commercializing existing assets meant for learning. This
proposed development signals a shift away from long-term educational value
toward short-term commercial interests.
It is also important to note that the alumni community has, over the years,
collectively invested billions of naira in the development of the College—
consistently funding infrastructure, supporting academic programs, and
strengthening the institution without taking any portion of school land or
seeking anything in return. This record reflects a deep, selfless commitment to
the school’s growth and sustainability.
Furthermore, the alumni has formally established a dedicated foundation focused
on the perpetuation of the College and the advancement of academic
excellence, with plans to raise ₦5 billion at its official launch in June 2026. This
demonstrates that credible, mission-aligned funding alternatives already exist without compromising the intergrity of the school
Our objections are as follows:
1. Misuse of Educational Land for Commercial Gain:
The proposed project is fundamentally a residential and commercial real
estate venture. This constitutes a clear diversion of federally designated
educational land into private hands, undermining the original purpose for
which the land was acquired.
2. Threat to Student Safety and Academic Environment:
The introduction of a mixed-use estate sharing boundaries with the school
exposes students to avoidable risks and erodes the controlled, secure
environment required for effective learning.
3. Irreversible Damage to School Capacity and Future Growth:
The land identified for this project includes critical open spaces necessary
for recreation, expansion, and future development. Any project that
reduces the capacity of the school to grow, expand, and improve its
facilities cannot, in any form, be considered beneficial to the institution.
4. Fundamental Question of Necessity:
Why Federal Government College Kano land? Kano State is one of the
largest states in the country, with abundant land available for real estate
development. There is no justification for appropriating land from an
existing educational institution when alternatives clearly exist.
5. No Tangible Benefit to the School:
There is no scenario under which this land-swap PPP arrangement
benefits the school. On the contrary, all available evidence suggests that
the project is structured primarily for private commercial gain. We are
compelled to state that this raises serious concerns that the promoters
intend to rip off the government and the Nigerian people under the guise
of a PPP arrangement.
Your Excellency, this matter goes beyond a single institution. It raises a
fundamental question about our national priorities: whether we will protect and
strengthen our educational institutions, or allow them to be gradually eroded.
We therefore respectfully call on the President to:
• Immediately cancel the proposed PPP land concession;
• Protect the sanctity and integrity of Unity Schools nationwide
*Ensure that no action is taken that compromises the future of education
in Nigeria.
We also strongly advise members of the public to refrain from purchasing or
investing in any land or property associated with this scheme, as it is under
serious dispute and may be overturned, exposing buyers to financial loss.
FGCKOSA wishes to make it clear that we will not relent in pursuing all lawful and
legal avenues to overturn this illegal arrangement. We remain committed to
safeguarding the legacy of our institution and ensuring that it continues to serve
future generations.
Signed,
Shoyinka Shodunke
President
Federal Government College Kano Old Students Association (FGCKOSA)
Revival Atmosphere as Dominion City Launches Night of Glory 2026.
Lagos – The atmosphere was charged with faith, worship, and expectancy as Dominion City’s Global Camp Meeting 2026 entered its peak with the first day of the “Night of Glory,” drawing thousands of worshippers to Lagos and Enugu in a powerful display of spiritual revival.
Held at the Golden Heart Place, Ajah, Lagos, the Friday evening gathering marked a significant moment in the ongoing six-day conference themed “Redigging the Wells of Our Fathers.” Participants from across Nigeria and beyond converged both physically and online, united by a shared hunger for divine encounter and transformation.
From the outset, the meeting was characterised by intense worship sessions led by gospel ministers, creating an atmosphere many attendees described as “tangible with God’s presence.” The night quickly transitioned into sessions of fervent prayers, prophetic ministrations, and teachings centred on restoration, healing, and spiritual awakening.
Presiding over the meeting, Dr. David Ogbueli, founder of Dominion City, charged participants to reconnect with foundational truths and spiritual disciplines necessary for personal and societal transformation. He emphasised that the “Night of Glory” was designed as a moment of divine visitation where destinies could be reshaped.
“As we redig the wells of our fathers, we are reconnecting with ancient graces and covenant realities that produce undeniable results,” he declared.
As the night unfolded, several remarkable testimonies were shared, reinforcing the theme of supernatural intervention. Among them was the case of a 14-year-old girl who was reportedly delivered from a seven-year struggle with pornography addiction, an experience that drew emotional reactions from the congregation.
Other testimonies included reported healing from cancer, recovery from a severe skin infection attributed to spiritual affliction, the healing of a heart-related condition, and three years of a non-menstrual period. Attendees also recounted instances of restored hearing and sight, with individuals testifying to improvements from partial deafness and blindness, among others.
Fathers of faith present were Barrister Emeka Nwankpa, Pastor Yemi Ayodele, Rev. Pade Tokun, Apostle Gbenga Adegbenro, Rev. Mike Adegbile, and others. Other Ministers present, including Pastor Dr. Charles Ndifon, Pastor Randy Mitchell, Apostle Ikechukwu Nnajiofor, and others, reinforced messages of faith and the power of God to intervene in human situations. They encouraged worshippers to remain steadfast and receptive, noting that miracles often spring from an atmosphere of unwavering belief.
Beyond the miraculous, the gathering also underscored a broader call to moral and spiritual renewal. Church leaders reiterated the need for believers to embody values that can positively influence society, especially in a time of perceived moral decline.
The “Night of Glory” is part of the larger Global Camp Meeting, which began on April 1 and will run through April 6, featuring daily teachings, leadership sessions, and specialized programmes for youths and families.
Organisers say expectations remain high for the second night, with many believing that the wave of miracles and transformation witnessed on the first night is only the beginning.
For many attendees, however, the message was clear beyond the signs and wonders; the true essence of the gathering lies in a renewed commitment to live transformed lives and impact society. //END.//
Easter: Obasa Urges Christians To Embrace Hope, Unity, Renewal
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has congratulated Christian faithful in Lagos and across Nigeria on the celebration of Easter, urging them to draw strength from the lessons of Christ’s resurrection.
In his Easter message, released by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Dave Agboola, Obasa described the season as a reminder of victory over despair, renewal after trials, and the triumph of light over darkness. He noted that just as Christ overcame death, Nigeria can overcome its current challenges if citizens remain steadfast, prayerful, and committed to unity.
“Easter is a season of hope and renewal. As a nation, we face economic pressures and security concerns, but the resurrection teaches us that no situation is beyond redemption. Let us roll away the stones of division and despair, and work together for peace, justice, and prosperity,” the Speaker said.
He called on Lagosians to continue to show love and compassion to one another, stressing that collective effort is key to building a stronger Lagos and a better Nigeria.
Obasa prayed that the joy of Easter would fill homes with renewed faith and guide both leaders and citizens toward a brighter future.
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