The All Nigeria Rotary Peace Summit 2026, holding on 7 November, will bring together international peacebuilding experts, academics, security specialists, policymakers and civil society leaders to examine practical solutions to Nigeria’s peace and development challenges.
According to a statement on Monday by the organisers, the summit, which will take place at the Victoria Garden Event Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, will start at 9 am with the theme, ‘Good Governance, Justice and Equity: Foundations for Sustainable Peace’.
Under the sub-theme ‘From Dialogue to Action: Forging a Sustainable Peace Legacy in Nigeria’, the gathering aims to go beyond conversation.
Organisers say it will produce actionable recommendations, strengthen partnerships and secure stakeholder commitments towards lasting peace.
The keynote address will be delivered by the Director of Partnerships at the Institute for Economics and Peace, Lea Perekrests. Her presentation, ‘Global Perspectives on Good Governance, Justice and Equity as Foundations for Sustainable Peace’, will examine how effective institutions, inclusive governance and equitable societies contribute to lasting peace.
Scheduled for 10:35 am, the session will offer an international perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing Nigeria as it works to strengthen social cohesion and build resilient communities.
The summit will also feature two high-level panel discussions. The first on ‘Governance, Justice, Equity and National Cohesion’, will be moderated by the Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu. It will explore the links between accountable governance, access to justice, equitable development and national unity.
Panellists are an intelligence practitioner, Rear Admiral Elkana Jaiyeola, who is also a security expert; Nebechukwu, the Director of the Abdulmalik Abubakar Institute for Peace and Sustainable Development Studies, Dr. Diamond Preye; and a Professor of Criminology at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Prof. Richard Aborisade.
Drawing on their backgrounds in security, peace studies and criminology, the speakers will examine institutional accountability, governance challenges and the need to rebuild public confidence in national institutions.
The session will include expert presentations, moderated discussion and audience interventions, and will end with recommendations for strengthening national cohesion.
The second panel on ‘Security, Inclusion and the Future of Peace in Nigeria’, will be moderated by an entrepreneur, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who is also a Rotarian, administrator, farmer and communication specialist. It will consider how inclusive participation, community engagement, civil society collaboration and security interventions can contribute to a more peaceful Nigeria.
Panellists are a humanitarian, Kaltumi Abdulazeez, who is also an activist and advocate for women, girls and marginalised communities; Executive Director of The Nigeria Network of NGOs, Oyebisi Oluseyi; and Dr. Samuel Ajiye.
Particular attention will be given to the role of women, young people, vulnerable communities and non-governmental organisations in shaping sustainable peacebuilding strategies.
The summit convener, Yinka Babalola, who is the President of Rotary International, will deliver an address on peacebuilding in Nigeria and formally declare the summit open.
His participation reflects Rotary’s longstanding commitment to peacebuilding, conflict prevention, dialogue and international understanding.
The programme also includes goodwill messages from representatives of youth organisations, women’s groups, security institutions and the diplomatic community, among them is the National President of JCI Nigeria, Mr. Abisogun Akinbode; Convener of Women on a Mission, Dr. Kunbi Wuraola, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; and the Ambassador of Sweden to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm.
A major highlight will be the session ‘From Dialogue to Action — Key Recommendations from Stakeholders, Commitments and Peace Legacy Agenda’, coordinated by Past District Governor Wole Kukoyi.
Stakeholders will identify practical commitments arising from the day’s discussions.
The programme also provides for the signing of a Peace Legacy Accord and Agenda, followed by the presentation of a summit declaration and communiqué setting out agreed resolutions and next steps.
These activities are intended to turn the summit’s deliberations into a framework for continued engagement and action.
The summit is expected to serve as an important platform for collaboration among Rotary leaders, government institutions, peacebuilding professionals, security stakeholders, development organisations and civil society.
Through dialogue, shared expertise and collective commitment, it seeks to advance the understanding that sustainable peace is inseparable from good governance, justice, equity and meaningful inclusion.
