Nigeria played a decisive role in the global anti-apartheid struggle, seeing its efforts as both a Pan-African duty and a moral responsibility. From the late 1960s through the 1980s, successive Nigerian governments, civil society groups, and student unions consistently stood against South Africa’s racial policies.
In 1976, Nigeria established the Southern African Relief Fund (SARF), which mobilized contributions from schoolchildren, workers, and professionals to support the families of South African freedom fighters.
University students and trade unions organized boycotts of companies tied to the apartheid economy, amplifying grassroots solidarity beyond government policy.
Nigeria also wielded economic pressure. The government took measures against firms accused of supplying oil to apartheid South Africa, and imposed sanctions that signaled its willingness to bear costs in the name of African unity.
One widely circulated anecdote claims that Nigerian passports once carried the phrase “Africa Has No Business with Apartheid”. While powerful, such details require further sourcing from archival records to be confirmed.
When Nelson Mandela was released in 1990, Nigeria welcomed him with great honor. During his visit in May 1990, Mandela met with Nigerian leaders in Lagos and Abuja, and received honorary degrees from institutions such as the University of Lagos.
His speeches often acknowledged Nigeria’s sacrifices, calling the country a “frontline state without a border with South Africa.”
Mandela’s relationship with Nigeria continues to resonate. His legacy reinforces Nigeria’s Pan-African diplomatic posture, reminding the nation of its historic role as a defender of African liberation and justice.
Sources: Abdul Raufu Mustapha, “Nigeria as a Foreign Policy Actor in Southern Africa,” African Affairs (1986); Sola Ojo, Nigeria and the Struggle Against Apartheid (1995); newspaper archives, The Guardian (Nigeria), 1990.
Photo Credit: Genichiro Jyunichi.
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