Global leaders and prominent political figures are converging on Chicago for the funeral ceremonies of renowned American civil rights leader, Jesse Jackson, as tributes continue to pour in from around the world.
President Bola Tinubu has dispatched a five-member delegation to represent Nigeria at the final burial rites scheduled for Saturday in the United States.
Jackson, a former U.S. presidential candidate and long-time advocate for civil rights and social justice, died on February 17, 2026, at the age of 84 in Chicago.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the Nigerian delegation would be led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
Other members of the delegation 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 the statement, the delegation will deliver President Tinubu’s message of condolence to the Jackson family and pay tribute to the late civil rights icon.
The funeral programme for Jackson began on February 26 with a lying-in-state at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago.
Other activities included memorial services in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., as well as a lying-in-state at the South Carolina Statehouse between March 1 and March 5.
A public memorial dubbed the “People’s Celebration” is scheduled for Friday at the House of Hope on Chicago’s Far South Side, where several global political figures are expected to attend.
Among those expected are former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Also listed among attendees are former First Lady Jill Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The service will be led by church leaders Charles Jenkins and James T. Meeks, with remarks expected from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, among others.
Musical performances during the memorial are expected from Jennifer Hudson, BeBe Winans and Marvin Winans.
The public service will be followed by a private homegoing ceremony for invited guests on Saturday at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters.
Jackson was widely regarded as a towering figure of the American civil rights movement. He worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. before King’s assassination and spent decades advocating for racial equality, social justice and economic empowerment.
In an earlier tribute, President Tinubu described Jackson as a steadfast friend of Nigeria and Africa, noting his strong advocacy for justice and racial equality.
“He was a moral voice and a formidable opponent of apartheid in South Africa. He played a leading role in the campaign for the release from prison of Nelson Mandela and other leaders of the African National Congress. He also helped galvanise global support for sanctions against the apartheid regime,” Tinubu said.
Leave a Reply