By Prof. Udenta O. Udenta
The world is changing, and the winds of that change are no longer blowing from a single direction. For decades, the global order has danced to the familiar rhythm of Western dominance; a system where a few powerful states set the tempo while others followed in step.
However, today, the drumbeats are multiplying. From Beijing to Moscow, from Brasília to Pretoria, voices once considered peripheral are finding their cadence. As the world drifts from Western dominance toward shared power, the Global Governance Initiative offers Africa and Nigeria in particular, a new stage to shape global fairness and equity.
The Global Governance Initiative (GGI)
The Global Governance Initiative (GGI), launched by China, represents a progressive international framework aimed at enhancing cooperation among nations to address pressing global issues such as climate change, inequality, and sustainable development. Central to GGI’s mission is the transformation of established global institutions such as the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank – to ensure they are more inclusive, transparent, and attuned to the complexities of contemporary geopolitical dynamics. By advocating for a recalibration of global power structures, the initiative seeks to diminish Western hegemony while elevating the influence of emerging economies, especially those from the Global South, thereby fostering a more equitable and multipolar world order.
A World Beyond the Old Order
The world is moving beyond the old order. For much of modern history, global governance has been built around Western dominated institutions such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and NATO. The West has acted as both the architect and the referee of this system. While this post-World War II framework brought stability, it also cemented inequalities that continue to influence international relations today.
The Global Governance Initiative emerges as a quiet yet bold call for change. It insists that fairness and inclusivity, rather than dominance or dependency, should shape the next chapter of global cooperation. By focusing on sovereign equality, true multilateralism, the rule of law, and development centered on people, the GGI echoes the Global South’s call for a more balanced and just international order.
In the words of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the GGI “is not about replacing one system with another but about improving global governance so that every country’s voice counts.” This message is subtle but profound: the world is shifting from command to consensus, from dominance to dialogue.
The Western monopoly on moral authority and agenda-setting is giving way to a more diverse framework; one that welcomes the legitimacy of many worldviews. The era of a single voice speaking for all is fading, and consequently, a multipolar world is beginning to take shape. As an African saying reminds us, “No matter how long the night, the day will surely break.” The new dawn of global governance promises shared power and shared purpose.
China and Africa: Partners in Fairness and Equity
China and Africa share a unique kinship; both have wrestled with marginalization and both seek reform of a system that often overlooks the needs of developing nations. As the African proverb goes, “Until the lion learns to write, the story will always glorify the hunter,” underscoring the importance of Africa having an active voice on the global stage. Similarly, China, with its own journey of overcoming historic exclusion, positions itself through the GGI not as a hegemon but as a partner committed to equity, justice, and genuine cooperation. Africa’s engagement with the GGI aligns with its broader aspiration to carve out a more prominent role globally. The 2025 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Changsha Declaration explicitly advocates for an “equal and orderly multipolar world,” reflecting a desire for governance that mirrors the diversity of its peoples and the equality of nations. Both China and Africa can exemplify a new form of partnership; one rooted in mutual respect and pragmatic collaboration, rather than aid dependency. As the African saying goes, “Wisdom does not come overnight,” emphasizing patience and collective effort. Through the GGI, they aim to promote:
Fairness: Every country, regardless of size or strength, deserves a voice at the global table.
Inclusivity: Addressing the concerns of developing nations, from debt to climate change, as central to international policy.
Equity: Reforming global financial institutions to amplify the voice of the developing world, making it more legitimate and representative. This partnership reflects a shared understanding that “a bird with one wing cannot fly,” emphasizing unity and mutual support for sustainable progress.
For too long, Africa has been described as the world’s “next frontier.” Under a multipolar order, it must instead be recognized as a current partner – vibrant, strategic, and essential to the architecture of global governance.
Multipolarity and the Power of Global South Cooperation
One of the most transformative ideas within the GGI is the emphasis on Global South (Africa, Asia, and Latin America) cooperation/collaboration among developing countries to reduce reliance on single power blocs.
A multipolar world encourages Africa, Asia, and Latin America to build horizontal relationships; trading, investing, and innovating together, rather than waiting for direction from traditional Western centers of power.
This shift allows African countries to:
Diversify partnerships beyond traditional Western ties;
Pursue infrastructure, technology, and trade cooperation aligned with their own development goals;
Reduce economic vulnerability by spreading risks across multiple partners;
Reclaim moral and intellectual agency in defining global narratives.
Indeed, the GGI reflects a world where the Global South no longer whispers its grievances but speaks its vision.
Africa’s journey toward this cooperative future is visible in frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which creates a unified market across 54 nations, and in regional organizations like ECOWAS and SADC that are deepening continental integration.
In such a world, dependency gives way to interdependence. As another African proverb wisely puts it, “When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion.” Africa’s unity and partnerships through initiatives like the GGI can indeed tie down old hierarchies and reshape global priorities.
Nigeria’s Voice in a Changing World
Nigeria, as Africa’s largest democracy and one of its biggest economies, stands at the crossroads of this transformation. With its vast human capital and strategic influence, Nigeria’s participation in the GGI framework signals both opportunity and responsibility.
Through the lens of multi-polarity, Nigeria can champion policies that reflect Africa’s growing confidence, from reforming global financial institutions to shaping digital governance and climate justice. Nigeria’s leadership can manifest in several ways:
Institutional advocacy – pushing for reform of the UN Security Council, IMF, and World Bank to reflect Africa’s realities;
Economic leadership – using AfCFTA as a platform to strengthen regional trade and industrial value chains;
Policy innovation – leading global conversations on renewable energy, technology transfer, and food security;
Cultural diplomacy – showcasing Africa’s intellectual and moral contributions to the world stage.
By engaging through the GGI, Nigeria can help redefine what it means to be a “Global South” nation, not as a dependent actor but as a co-designer of global rules that govern trade, finance, and cooperation.
More importantly, Nigeria’s participation would help ensure that Africa’s aspirations for security, dignity, and development are reflected in global decisions, not merely acknowledged in rhetoric.
A Future Built on Shared Power
The Global Governance Initiative is not a perfect blueprint, but it represents a courageous attempt to bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality, between the ideal of cooperation and the practice of power politics.
Its true test lies in whether it can foster genuine partnerships rather than new hierarchies. Yet, its spirit resonates strongly with the world’s yearning for fairness, inclusion, and shared responsibility.
For Africa, this is a historic moment. The continent stands not at the margins but at the center of global transformation; no longer reacting to change but defining it.
For Nigeria, the challenge is clear: to lend its ideas, energy, and leadership to building a multipolar world that reflects the diversity of human experience and the dignity of all nations.
The unipolar era taught us efficiency but not equality; the multipolar age may teach us cooperation, if we dare to learn.
Ultimately, the quest for a multipolar world is not about rivalry but renewal; a renewal of trust, fairness, and global solidarity. If humanity is to thrive in the 21st century, governance must mirror its diversity. That is the promise of the Global Governance Initiative, and the opportunity that Nigeria and Africa must not ignore.
Prof. Udenta O. Udenta is Nigeria’s founding National Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy. He writes on political reform, international relations, and African development from a multidisciplinary perspective.
