Nigerians rank among the world’s top advocates for international cooperation, according to a new global survey by The Rockefeller Foundation.
The poll, released ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, found that 71% of Nigerian adults support nations working together to solve shared challenges. This places Nigeria in the top five globally, alongside India (81%), South Korea (73%), and Kenya (72%). South Africa followed closely with 70%.
Why Nigerians support cooperation
William Asiko, Vice President for Africa at The Rockefeller Foundation, said the findings reflect Nigeria’s awareness of global interdependence.
“Africans want a system of international cooperation that is not only effective but also equitable,” he said.
Ndidi Nwuneli, president of the ONE Campaign and a board member at the Foundation, stressed the importance of collective action at a time when trust in global institutions is waning.
“At a moment when the world is struggling to cooperate on shared threats, the Foundation can once again help bring people together to catalyse solutions that will save lives,” she said.
Global challenges and trust gap
While Nigerians strongly back cooperation, only 42% believe it delivers direct benefits to them. Globally, 75% said they would support international cooperation if it effectively solves problems, while 76% would back it if it delivers domestic results.
Respondents worldwide expressed overwhelming support for collaboration on:
- Food and water security – 93%
- Trade and economic development – 92%
- Global health – 91%
- Jobs – 90%
- Climate change – 86%
Trust in international organisations remains modest: 58% trust the UN, 60% trust WHO, while only 44% trust the IMF.
What’s next
To bridge these gaps, The Rockefeller Foundation has launched a $50 million “Build the Shared Future” initiative, focusing on people-centred solutions, especially in African nations like Nigeria that face climate disasters, health crises, and economic instability.
Researchers noted that Nigeria’s population size and economic influence make its pro-cooperation stance especially significant for shaping global policy.
The survey, conducted by Focaldata between August 8 and September 10, 2025, involved 36,405 adults across 34 countries, with a margin of error between 2–4 percentage points.
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