UN To Host Peace-Building Programme To Combat Insecurity

The United Nations (UN) in Nigeria announced on Wednesday that its inaugural peace-building programme, “Summit of the Future-New Agenda for Peace,” is aimed at advancing measures to address security-related issues.

Mohamed Fall, the UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, announced a national stakeholders consultation in Abuja to plan strategies for the upcoming summit in New York on September 22-23, 2024.

The UN event, organised in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), aims to promote dialogue as a tool for addressing security challenges.

Although Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, Fall believes it has a role to play as a regional power in shaping the regional and global agenda for peace and security.

He stated: “There are several idioms that highlight Nigeria’s importance to the subcontinent and the world, the most notable of which is “when Nigeria sneezes, the entire continent falls sick.”

He stated that the promotion of peace and security is central to the United Nations and is enshrined in the organization’s Charter to protect future generations from the scourge of conflict.

He believes that dialogue is critical to Nigeria’s ability to capture and articulate efforts to address peace and security challenges.

He went on to say, “The new peace agenda is a fresh look at the changing security landscape and a call to reinvigorate collective security systems based on trust, solidarity, and universality.”

“The agenda emphasises the importance of preventive diplomacy in combating poverty, inequalities, climate change, and closing development gaps that contribute to conflict in the first place.

“This would strengthen both the regional peace architecture and the global framework for dealing with current threats to peace and security in Africa.

“By assertively participating in these high-level deliberations, Nigerian stakeholders can amplify their country’s voice and advocate for tailored solutions that better reflect ground realities,” Fall said.

Dr Joseph Ochogwu, Director-General of IPCR, emphasised the importance of increased international cooperation among institutions and relevant stakeholders in dealing with the recent spate of violent conflicts.

According to him, it has become critical to address the root causes of conflict, prevent crises from escalating, and create an equitable world for all.

“As we consider the profound challenges that face us, we must recognise the critical role of solidarity in instilling a sense of shared responsibility and mutual support.

“As we embark on a new agenda for peace, let us heed the call for unity, compassion, and collective action; the challenges we face are daunting, but not insurmountable.

“Only by embracing this paradigm shift in which peacebuilding is viewed as everyone’s responsibility can we truly create the conditions for long-term peace and security.”

“The time to act is now before these threats escalate and engulf us; let us rise to the occasion and fulfil our responsibility as stewards of peace and security for all.