President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed a five-member delegation to represent Nigeria at the final burial ceremonies of renowned American civil rights leader and activist, Jesse Jackson.
Jackson, a former United States presidential candidate and longtime advocate for civil rights, died on February 17, 2026, in Chicago at the age of 84.
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 the Presidency, the delegation will deliver the President’s condolences to the Jackson family and pay tribute to the late civil rights icon on behalf of Nigeria.
In an earlier tribute, President Tinubu praised Jackson’s lifelong dedication to justice and highlighted his strong ties to Africa.
“He was a moral voice and a formidable opponent of apartheid in South Africa,” the President said.
“He also played a key role in the campaign for the release of Nelson Mandela and other leaders of the African National Congress from prison, helping to rally international support for sanctions against the apartheid government,” Tinubu added.
The President further described Jackson as a steadfast ally of Nigeria and the African continent.
“Reverend Jesse Jackson was a great friend of Nigeria and Africa whose voice resonated around the world in the struggle for equality, justice, and human dignity,” he said.
The burial programme began on February 26 with a lying-in-state at the headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago.
Additional memorial events scheduled between March 1 and March 5 include services in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., including a lying-in-state at the South Carolina Statehouse.
A “People’s Celebration” is scheduled for March 6 at the House of Hope, followed by a private homegoing service on March 7 at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.