Africa At A Glance Launched at National Assembly, Calls for Africans to Tell Their Own Story By Okwo romeon Abuja

Abuja, June 11, 2026 — Prominent leaders, policymakers, academics, and cultural advocates gathered at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, for the official launch of Africa At A Glance, a reference book authored by Joseph Maziri Andefiki and designed to provide accessible information on contemporary issues across African countries.

Dignitaries at book launch 

The event attracted notable dignitaries from across the country, including representatives of the Senate President's office, lawmakers, religious leaders, and development advocates, all of whom emphasized the importance of Africans telling their own stories and shaping their own future.

Reviewing the book on behalf of the Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate, Hon. Chris Nonyelun described the publication as a valuable contribution to knowledge about Africa and its people.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the event, Nonyelun argued that Africa possesses the capacity to solve its own challenges if the continent develops governance systems that reflect its unique realities and aspirations.

He faulted colonial-era arrangements imposed on many African countries, saying they have contributed significantly to governance challenges and developmental setbacks across the continent.

Hon (Barr) JesseOkey- joe

According to him, Africa's future depends on developing homegrown solutions capable of addressing the political, economic, and social realities facing its people.

Chairman of the occasion, Ambassador Jameel Waziri, Mutawallen Adamawa, who was represented by Dr. (Mrs.) Rukkaiyatu Bashir Ribadu, PhD, commended the author for producing a work that promotes knowledge and understanding of Africa.

Dr. Ribadu announced a donation of N500,000 in support of the book launch and encouraged Africans to continue writing and documenting their experiences despite the declining reading culture.

Mrs Rukkaiyutu Bashir Ribadu PhD representing Amb Jameel Waziri Mutawali Adamawa state 

She noted that until Africans take ownership of their narratives, perceptions of the continent will continue to be shaped by outsiders.

"Until Africa begins to tell its own story, the global perception of the continent will largely remain negative," she said, while challenging young Africans to contribute more to scholarship, literature, and intellectual development.

Other notable speakers at the event included Bishop Edwin Musa Jurumai; the National President of Villanova Old Boys Association (VOBA), Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, a governorship aspirant in Taraba State; and Hon. (Barr.) Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, JP, representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency II of Lagos State.

The speakers unanimously stressed the need for greater investment in education, research, and indigenous knowledge production as tools for driving Africa's development.

The book, Africa At A Glance, was conceived as a reference material for Africans and non-Africans seeking concise and reliable information about countries across the continent. According to the author, the publication is intended to serve readers both within Africa and in other regions of the world, including Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Hon Chris Nonyelun 
Representative of chief of Staff to the President of the senate, Barr Chinedu Francis Akubueze at Occasions 

The foreword of the book highlights its usefulness to researchers, students, policymakers, and general readers by simplifying access to information on African states.

As noted in the foreword, the publication "has succeeded in simplifying the study of African states in such a way that researchers interested in any of the countries featured in the book can easily find relevant information without difficulty."

Observers at the launch described Africa At A Glance as a timely intellectual contribution aimed at promoting a deeper understanding of Africa's diversity, challenges, opportunities, and growing role in global affairs.

The event concluded with goodwill messages, presentations, and a renewed call for Africans to document their histories, celebrate their achievements, and shape the narrative of the continent from an African .