Nigeria Can Surpass Burkina Faso’s Achievements Under Traoré – Dr. Rachel Leslie

Dr. Rachel Leslie, a renowned Pan-African scholar and historian, believes Nigeria has the potential to surpass the developmental strides of Burkina Faso under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré — but only with visionary and civilian leadership.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Amazing Africans, Dr. Leslie, who was born in Paris and raised across multiple countries including Nigeria, Germany, and the U.S., highlighted how her early exposure to Pan-African thought and activism shaped her perspective on African leadership and development.

A Legacy of Pan-African Influence

Recalling her upbringing, she described the vibrant intellectual community of “Black Paris,” where her father studied alongside figures like Cheikh Anta Diop. Her father later became a professor at the University of Ibadan, where she spent part of her childhood.

Leslie, who later became president of the Black Student Council at Northwestern University, said her global educational journey deeply reinforced her commitment to African unity and progress.

On Captain Ibrahim Traoré

Asked about Ibrahim Traoré’s growing popularity across Africa, she praised his efforts to reclaim and repurpose national resources for development, describing him as a modern-day product of the revolutionary Pan-African tradition.

“I see Traoré as a descendant of Thomas Sankara — young, African-centred, and committed to African self-determination. His approach reflects the legacy of leaders like Nyerere, Mandela, Senghor, Lumumba, and Nkrumah,” she said.

However, Leslie also warned of the risks: “There’s a delicate balance between nationalising resources and avoiding the dominance of military culture in civil society. He must protect the space for dialogue and civic engagement.”

She expressed concern for Traoré’s safety, noting that disrupting global economic interests makes him a target. “He must take extreme caution. His life is certainly in danger,” she added.

Why Nigeria Doesn’t Need a Military Path

When asked if Nigeria could replicate such a transformation, she responded emphatically: “Nigeria doesn’t need a military government to transform. It only needs the right leadership.”

She noted Nigeria's immense wealth in both natural and human resources, stating, “Nigeria is richer than most African countries. With oil, gas, uranium, gold, and a population of over 200 million, it has all it needs to lead Africa into a new era.”

“Nigeria exports some of the most skilled labour in the world,” she continued. “What it lacks is leadership focused on development and Pan-African ideals.”

Dr. Leslie concluded that Nigeria has long been overdue for a leadership role on the continent — and with purposeful governance, it can easily outperform what’s being achieved in Burkina Faso.