Abuja, August 13 2026. — The Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in the Federal Republic of Nigeria held a solemn ceremony to pay tribute to Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, on the occasion of the Centenary of his birth.
As part of the ceremony, a floral arrangement was placed before the monument erected in his honor at the Cuban diplomatic mission in Abuja—a replica of his tomb at the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in the province of Santiago de Cuba, where the remains of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution rest.
The ceremony was attended by members of the Cuban diplomatic and administrative staff working at the Embassy, as well as representatives of the Nigerian staff of the diplomatic mission, who joined in paying tribute to the memory and legacy of Fidel Castro.
During the ceremony, tribute was paid to the revolutionary trajectory of the Commander-in-Chief, his contribution to the independence, sovereignty and dignity of Cuba, and his unwavering commitment to solidarity, social justice, internationalism and unity among peoples.
The event also highlighted the profound legacy Fidel Castro left in Cuba's relations with the peoples of Africa, and particularly the historic bonds of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Cuba and Nigeria.
Remarks Delivered During the Ceremony
Comrades,
Today we gather to commemorate a date of profound significance in the history of Cuba: the centenary of the birth of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, a figure who shaped the course of our country and left a legacy recognized internationally.
To remember Fidel is to recall a man of extraordinary leadership capacity, unyielding determination, discipline, political intelligence, and exceptional ability to communicate his ideas. His life was devoted to the ideals he firmly defended and to the building of the national project he promoted.
History places him at the forefront of events that changed the course of Cuba. In 1953, he led the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Garrisons. Although the action was not successful militarily, it came to be regarded by his followers as the beginning of the revolutionary struggle. Following the trial at which he delivered his famous defense speech, “History Will Absolve Me,” he kept alive the ideas that would later inspire the revolutionary movement.
Years later, he organized the expedition of the yacht Granma, whose landing on December 2, 1956, marked the beginning of the guerrilla struggle in the Sierra Maestra. From there, he led a process that culminated in the triumph of the Revolution on January 1, 1959.
Another decisive moment was the victory at Playa Girón, in April 1961, when Cuban forces defeated the invasion organized by Cuban exiles with the support of the United States. For many Cubans, this event represented the defense of national sovereignty and consolidated Fidel's leadership during a period of intense international tensions.
On the international stage, Fidel carried out an intense diplomatic activity. He defended the right of peoples to self-determination, promoted cooperation among developing countries, and strengthened Cuba's relations with numerous nations in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and other regions. His participation in the Non-Aligned Movement, his support for national independence processes, and Cuban cooperation in the fields of healthcare, education, and professional training contributed to strengthening Cuba's presence on the international stage.
Thousands of Cuban doctors, teachers, engineers, and other professionals took their work of solidarity to dozens of countries, making international cooperation one of the most recognized features of Cuban foreign policy during his leadership.
Fidel was a staunch advocate of the development of education, science, culture, and sports. He always considered knowledge an indispensable tool for achieving progress and social justice.
As we commemorate the centenary of his birth, we pay tribute to a personality who devoted his life to the causes he defended with profound conviction. May the study of his thought and the history of our country contribute to strengthening values such as patriotism, solidarity, dignity, commitment to the nation, and respect for the sovereignty of peoples.
May the new generations find in the knowledge of our history and in Fidel's example the inspiration to serve Cuba with responsibility, ethics, and love for the homeland.
Today, as Cuba continues to face the consequences of the economic, commercial, financial, and energy blockade imposed by the Government of the United States by force, which affects multiple areas of national life, the example of steadfastness, resistance, and defense of sovereignty that Fidel embodied throughout his life continues, for the majority of Cubans, to be a source of inspiration.
With the unity of our people, confidence in our own capabilities, and the conviction that we must defend our national independence, we face the challenges of the present with the same determination with which previous generations confronted decisive moments in our history. Just as the victory at Playa Girón holds a central place in the historical memory of the Cuban Revolution, as it represented the first major defeat of imperialism in Latin America, we reaffirm our aspiration that the strength, dignity, and perseverance of the Cuban people will likewise prevail in the face of today's difficulties.
We do not want war because we are a people of peace. But if the Government of the United States were to dare to attack us militarily, let it be known that it would suffer its second major defeat in Latin America. Because our struggle is that of David.
May the legacy of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro inspire us to work every day for a sovereign, prosperous, and peaceful Cuba, convinced that unity, resistance, and commitment to the homeland constitute our greatest strengths.
Eternal glory to Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz on the centenary of his birth!
Long live Cuba!
Fatherland or Death, We Shall Overcome!
The tribute also provided an opportunity for the Embassy of Cuba in Nigeria to reaffirm its commitment to preserving and conveying the historical and political legacy of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, as well as the values of solidarity, cooperation and friendship that characterize the relations between Cuba and Nigeria.
(Embassy of Cuba to Nigeria)