… Insists continental reform must begin with citizens, not seat

… Says UN map change means nothing if Africans still suffer

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State, Dr. Kayode Ajulo SAN, has called for a fundamental shift in how Africa’s global standing is translated into domestic progress, declaring that the true measure of the continent’s renaissance lies not in improved international representation but in the quality of life enjoyed by its citizens.

Ajulo argued that the United Nations’ recent move toward more equitable global representation on maps represents a symbolic milestone that must be followed by substantive reform across the continent.

In a policy statement, the Attorney-General described the UN’s cartographic intervention as a moment that extends far beyond the technical dimensions of mapmaking, noting that while it may appear to be a question of projections, proportions, and geography, beneath the geometry lies a profound human question about how nations represent one another.

Ajulo observed that for centuries, the continent has been described and interpreted largely through frameworks fashioned elsewhere, with maps forming part of the history.

He pointed to the mercator projection, developed in the sixteenth century principally for navigation, noting that while it remains valuable for its original purpose, its difficulty lies in the visual distortion it produces.

He noted that for too long, Africa has been presented internationally through a narrow vocabulary of crisis, poverty, conflict, disease, corruption, and humanitarian need.

He emphasized that Africa is also a continent of immense youthful energy, extraordinary cultural diversity, substantial natural resources, entrepreneurial ingenuity, and a demographic future that will profoundly influence the twenty-first century.

Ajulo argued that fairness requires responsibility from both Africa and the wider world, stressing that the international community must move beyond a relationship in which Africa is primarily regarded as a recipient of assistance rather than a partner in shaping the global order.

He further stressed that Africa must have a meaningful voice in the institutions that govern international finance, trade, technology, climate policy, and security, adding that the continent must also confront her own responsibilities.

The Attorney-General called for action across every sector of African society, stressing that “Egalitarianism does not mean that every person must possess identical wealth or that every society must produce identical outcomes. It means that human dignity should not depend upon birthplace, gender, social class, nationality, or proximity to power. The accident of geography should not determine the ceiling of human potential.

“That is where equality becomes real. And that is where Africa’s true renaissance will be found, not in appearing larger, but in making the lives of her people more secure, more prosperous, more dignified, and more free.

“The world owes Africa fairness. Africa owes her children excellence. Between those two obligations lies the work ahead. Let us build a continent where dignity is universal, opportunity is not inherited, and no child is forced to leave home in search of the future they deserve. That would be more than a correction of a picture. It is a correction of history, and that is the future worth building.

“A child born in Ifira-Akoko, Ondo State, deserves an education capable of competing with the best in the world. A farmer deserves access to finance, technology, and markets. An entrepreneur should not need political connections before capital becomes available.

“A scientist should be able to conduct serious research without having to leave the continent to find the necessary infrastructure. And a young African should be able to imagine a fulfilling future at home without regarding emigration as the only credible path to advancement.”