Prof Sir Bashiru Aremu, the First African UNESCO Laureate and Africa Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Unity of Nations Action for Climate Change Council (UNACCC), issued a broad Christmas and New Year message urging Christians and global citizens to reflect on the season’s meaning and extend compassion to the less privileged.
Prof Aremu Christmas message
Delivered on Wednesday 31 December 2025 and released by his Executive Assistant on Media, Comrade Sir Bieni Victor Emenike, the message reminded recipients that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and its redemptive hope for both Christians and non‑Christians worldwide. Prof Aremu called on communities to use the festivities to rededicate themselves to values of love, sacrifice, tolerance and service.
“As we celebrate Christmas, let us reflect on the significance of the season and reach out to one another,” he said, wishing Christians a merry Christmas and all global citizens a prosperous New Year. The UNESCO Laureate underlined that family, friendship and fellowship should remain central during the holidays and beyond.
Prof Aremu also used the occasion to urge Nigerian and African political leaders to embrace selflessness, compassion and service. He said these principles should guide patriotic leadership and true citizenship, promoting policies that serve the common good rather than personal interest.
Commending his staff, students, development partners and organisations worldwide for their support during 2025, he offered prayers and best wishes for 2026. “The New Year will bring peace, unity, progress and development in our lives and businesses,” he said, asking for divine protection and blessing over their efforts.
His remarks carried social as well as spiritual emphasis. Prof Aremu appealed to citizens to look beyond seasonal generosity and make compassion a constant practice. He urged Christians to support those who cannot afford to celebrate and to make a conscious effort to reach out with gifts, practical help and benevolence.
“We should take time to ponder the sufferings of the poor who are not privileged to celebrate,” he said. “As Christians, we have an obligation to leave the comfort of our everyday life to help the poor amongst us, just as Christ did for humanity.”
The UNESCO Laureate linked these moral appeals to peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and a renewed sense of communal duty. He encouraged families and communities to strengthen ties of love and understanding, arguing that such bonds underpin resilience in times of social or economic stress.
Prof Aremu’s roles as a UNESCO Laureate and UNACCC official inform his wider public interventions, which often combine cultural, educational and environmental concerns. In this message he reiterated the importance of solidarity and service as drivers of sustainable development and social harmony across Nigeria and Africa.
Concluding his statement, Prof Aremu extended special Christmas greetings to Christians worldwide and New Year wishes to all global citizens. He thanked colleagues, friends and well‑wishers for their encouragement through 2025 and prayed that 2026 would be marked by peace, unity and prosperity for individuals, institutions and nations.
Key Takeaways:
- Prof Aremu Christmas message appeals for reflection on the birth of Jesus and calls for compassion across Nigeria and beyond.
- The UNESCO Laureate and UNACCC chair urges political leaders to adopt selfless, service‑oriented leadership.
- He commends staff, partners and supporters for 2025 and prays for peace, unity and prosperity in 2026.
