The Awuapila Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) has made a strong appeal to President Bola Tinubu, calling for intensified collaborative efforts to end the persistent insecurity plaguing Nigeria. The group described the task of building peace as a shared national duty that requires decisive leadership and partnerships across all sectors of society.
A Call for Unified Action at Ibadan Conference
This urgent call was delivered by SPSP President, Nathaniel Awuapila, during the 19th International yearly Conference and General Assembly of the society, held at the University of Ibadan. He urged the Federal Government to place peace at the forefront as the essential foundation for achieving economic stability, social development, and national cohesion.
Addressing participants at the four-day conference, which carried the theme ‘Economic Challenges and the Tasks of Building Sustainable Peace in a Globalised World’, Awuapila stressed that insecurity has become a heavy national burden demanding the immediate attention of all actors. This includes government bodies, local communities, academic scholars, and field practitioners.
The Critical Need for a National Peace Framework
"We are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to work closely with peace professionals, researchers and grassroots actors to help solve the insecurity confronting our nation," Awuapila stated. He acknowledged that the government is currently pursuing an All-of-Government approach to governance. However, he strongly emphasised that nations facing prolonged insecurity, like Nigeria, require a more comprehensive All-of-Nation approach to create genuine and lasting solutions.
In a significant observation, Awuapila pointed out that Nigeria, 65 years after Independence, still lacks a national peace policy framework. He identified this absence as a major obstacle preventing coordinated and effective peacebuilding efforts across the country. He passionately advocated for the formulation and official adoption of a national peace framework. Such a policy would align institutions, various actors, and communities towards a single, shared peace agenda.
SPSP's Role and the Path Forward
Awuapila further highlighted the substantial contributions SPSP has made over the past 19 years. He noted the society's proven capacity in several critical areas, including:
- Research
- Dialogue facilitation
- Community engagement
- Policy support
- Field interventions
With Nigeria currently facing deepening economic pressures and escalating security threats, he urged the government to take immediate steps to reinforce the nation's internal peace architecture to safeguard its future. Other speakers at the event also examined the direct link between economic hardship and rising insecurity. They issued a stark warning that Nigeria's development aspirations may remain out of reach without firm, strategic, and well-coordinated peace interventions.
