Tinubu dispatches high-level delegation to honour Jesse Jackson in Chicago

Stanley Ihedigbo

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the dispatch of a five-member delegation to represent Nigeria at the final burial rites of renowned American civil rights leader Jesse Jackson.

According to the Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, Jackson, a prominent activist, preacher and former United States presidential candidate, died at the age of 84 on February 17, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

The Nigerian delegation will be led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. Other members include the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; the Special Presidential Envoy for Global and Pan-African Affairs, Brian Browne; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Sola Enikanolaye.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the delegation will deliver President Tinubu’s message of condolence to the Jackson family and join global leaders and admirers paying their final respects to the late civil rights icon.

President Tinubu had earlier paid tribute to Jackson, describing him as a steadfast ally of Nigeria and the African continent whose lifelong commitment to justice and equality resonated across the world.

In his tribute, the Nigerian leader recalled Jackson’s strong opposition to apartheid in South Africa and his significant role in international campaigns that pushed for the release of Nelson Mandela and other leaders of the African National Congress from prison.
Tinubu noted that Jackson was a powerful moral voice who mobilised global support for sanctions against the apartheid regime, contributing significantly to the eventual dismantling of racial segregation in South Africa.

“He was a moral voice and a formidable resistance to apartheid in South Africa. He played a leading role in the campaign for the release from prison of Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress leaders. He won critical support for sanctions against the then apartheid government,” the President stated.

Activities marking Jackson’s burial began on February 26 with a lying-in-state at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago.

The programme also includes memorial services in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., as well as a lying-in-state at the South Carolina Statehouse, scheduled between March 1 and March 5.

On March 6, a public “People’s Celebration” will be held at the House of Hope in Chicago, while a private homegoing ceremony will take place on March 7 at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Jackson’s life and legacy remain closely tied to the global struggle for civil rights, social justice and racial equality, making his passing a moment of reflection for leaders and communities across the world.