Breaking news from the hallowed halls of international diplomacy, where the delicate art of statecraft was recently displayed in its most sublime form: an American head of state managed to identify a Nigerian one. Yes, you read that correctly. At the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, President Donald Trump reportedly recognised Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria.
Cue the confetti cannons in Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s living room. Cue the press releases drafted with the fervour usually reserved for the discovery of oil in a backyard in Abia. A wave of unbridled delight has reportedly swept through a certain corridor of power. Why? Because validation has arrived from the Golden City on the Hill.
One can almost imagine the scene. A high-level Nigerian delegation, having navigated the treacherous waters of visa applications and jet lag, finally secures a seat at a prestigious international gathering. The moment arrives. The stars align. The microphone works. A glance is exchanged. A name is possibly uttered. And back home, a senator’s phone pings: “He saw her! He knows she exists! Mission accomplished!”
It’s a touching story, really. It raises profound, philosophical questions we’ve been too afraid to ask until now:
· Since when did our national self-esteem become a subscription service billed in US Presidential acknowledgements? Are we to understand that the respect commanded by our leaders is not inherent, but requires periodic top-ups from foreign powers, like data or a Netflix plan? “Your Dignity Bundle is running low. Please renew with a nod from a G7 nation to avoid interruptions in your gravitas.”
· Is there a new, unofficial ministerial portfolio? We have Ministers of Finance, of Health, of Power. Perhaps we missed the memo creating the “Minister of External Validation and Getting Noticed at Parties.” The key performance indicator is simple: number of times a foreign leader pronounces your name correctly on camera.
· What’s the official exchange rate? One Trump Recognition equals how many solved ASUU strikes? How many kilowatts of stable electricity? How many metres of paved road? We need clarity for our national accounting. Is it a floating or fixed rate?
Let’s be clear. There is nothing wrong with courtesy abroad. Diplomacy is built on it. But there’s a canyon of difference between “courtesy” and treating a basic diplomatic pleasantry as if it’s a World Cup victory for our national honour.
The sheer, unironic celebration of this non-event is the real punchline. It’s like a master chef who has prepared a magnificent, 10-course meal for his guests, then runs into the street screaming with joy because a passer-by said, “Hey, I see you have a spoon!” My dear leaders, you have the entire kitchen! The banquet is for the Nigerian people!
The “bending of the knees” you so rightly question isn’t necessarily in Washington. It’s in the mental genuflection that treats the approval of others as more significant than the approval of the people who elected you. It is the subtle admission that the spotlight from abroad feels warmer than the one at home—perhaps because the one at home keeps flickering due to unreliable electricity.
So, congratulations are indeed in order. A Nigerian First Lady was seen by an American President. A monumental day for… someone.
Meanwhile, back in Nigeria, the rest of us are left waiting for our own moment of “recognition.” Not from Washington, but from Abuja. A recognition of our daily struggles, a clear nod towards fixing the lights, and a heartfelt handshake with a better, more secure future. Now that would be an event worth issuing a press release about.
Until then, we’ll be here, watching the global validation tour, popcorn in hand, wondering what the next milestone will be. A thumbs-up from the French President? A retweet from a British Royal? The possibilities for our national celebration are endless, and almost entirely missing the point.
Centre for Nigeria Progress 