Tinubu sends delegation to attend Jesse Jackson’s burial in U.S.

2026-03-04 - 18:07

ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dispatched a five-member delegation to represent Nigeria at the burial of American civil rights leader, Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died on February 17, 2026, in Chicago at the age of 84. The delegation is led by Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Other members include Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Special Presidential Envoy for Global and Pan-African Affairs, Brian Browne; and Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye. According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the delegation will deliver President Tinubu’s condolence message to the Jackson family. In an earlier tribute, President Tinubu described the late Reverend Jackson as a great friend of Nigeria and Africa, noting his strong opposition to apartheid in South Africa and his advocacy for the release of Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress leaders. He also acknowledged Jackson’s role in mobilising international support for sanctions against the apartheid regime. The burial programme began on February 26 with a lying-in-state at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago. Memorial services were scheduled in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., including a lying-in-state at the South Carolina Statehouse from March 1 to 5. A “People’s Celebration” is set for March 6 at the House of Hope in Chicago, followed by a private homegoing service on March 7 at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.