The people and government of Angola recently bestowed an award of honour and recognition on Nigeria’s late former Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed.
The award event which held over the weekend in the Country’s capital – Luanda, was part of activities marking the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary.
The awards event which also had two other Nigerians, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Minister of External Affairs, Professor Ibrahim Gambari honoured with awards, recognised the historic contributions of Nigeria to Angola’s liberation struggle and Nigeria’s enduring commitment to African solidarity.
General Murtala Mohammed was honoured posthumously for his decisive role in supporting Angola’s independence rom Portuguese colonial rule.
Nigeria played a pivotal role during Angola’s liberation struggle in the mid-1970s. At a time when the newly independent country faced economic blockade and international isolation, Nigeria—under General Murtala Mohammed’s leadership—was among the first to recognise the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) government. The country also provided a financial lifeline of $17 million to help Angola rebuild and resist external pressures.
Speaking at the event, the President of the Angola–Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tangyalamba Veloso paid glowing tribute to General Murtala Muhammed’s courage and foresight and Nigeria’s role in the attainment of Angola’s independence.
Her words, “Nigeria’s stance was bold and principled. Despite Cold War tensions and opposition from Western powers, General Murtala Mohammed declared Angola’s government legitimate in 1975, defying global scepticism and affirming Nigeria’s leadership as the moral voice of Africa.
Veloso narrated how Murtala personally travelled to Angola to meet the country’s leaders and challenged international oil companies that were pulling out in protest of the independence movement. “He told the oil companies, if you pull out of Angola and don’t give them back their resources, you will also pull out from Nigeria and lose all your money. You won’t have Angola nor Nigeria to help your finance,” she recounted.
According to Veloso, that act of leadership changed the course of Angola’s history. “He was the first to provide financial assistance – $17 million—and the first president to recognise Angola as an independent country,” she said to loud applause. Her tribute not only honoured a hero but also reminded the world of a time when Nigeria’s voice resonated across the continent as a beacon of hope and leadership.
