President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of renowned American civil rights leader and Baptist preacher, Jesse Jackson, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 84.
In a State House statement issued on February 17, 2026, President Tinubu joined the people of the United States of America and the global community in mourning Jackson, describing him as a servant-leader whose life and work advanced the dignity of Black people, the oppressed, and the voiceless.
The President recalled that Reverend Jackson rose to global prominence as a young activist working alongside Martin Luther King Jr., helping to carry forward the struggle for racial justice in America. Although a preacher by calling, Jackson became a formidable political organiser and a leading voice for improved social and economic conditions for African-Americans.
President Tinubu noted his personal connection to Jackson’s activism, recalling his years as a student in Chicago in the 1970s, where he witnessed firsthand Jackson’s battles against injustice and discrimination. According to the President, Jackson’s work helped steer American society closer to the promise of the American Dream.
The statement also highlighted Jackson’s impact on American politics, noting that his presidential bids in 1984 and 1988 laid the groundwork for future progress, including the historic election of Barack Obama as the first Black president of the United States.
Beyond America, President Tinubu praised Jackson as a steadfast friend of Nigeria and Africa. He recalled Jackson’s vocal opposition to apartheid in South Africa, his campaign for the release of Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress leaders, and his role in mobilising international support for sanctions against the apartheid regime.
During Nigeria’s years of military dictatorship, the President said, Jackson stood firmly for human rights and democratic restoration. He also served as Special Envoy to Nigeria and Africa, appointed by Bill Clinton in 1997 and 1999, and worked to strengthen ties between African leaders and the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus.
President Tinubu described Reverend Jackson as a lifelong advocate of justice, democracy, and human progress, whose message of hope endured even in old age and illness.
“Even as age and illness mellowed him, his voice still resonated, urging us never to stop fighting for what is right and never to lose faith in humanity,” the President said, echoing Jackson’s enduring call to “keep hope alive.”
He concluded by praying for the eternal rest of the late civil rights icon, whom he described as a moral force whose legacy will continue to inspire generations.