Speaking with journalists shortly after her arrival, Perekrests described her reception as impressive, saying the energy of Nigerians was “really, really incredible”.
The international expert emphasised that sustainable peace requires strong institutions, inclusive governance and active community participation, stressing that peace should not be defined merely by the absence of violence.
She explained that peace could be viewed from two perspectives: negative peace, which refers to the absence of conflict or fear of conflict, and positive peace, which encompasses the attitudes, institutions and structures necessary for societies to maintain peaceful coexistence.
According to her, Nigeria must move beyond efforts to contain violence and focus on establishing the conditions that enable communities to prosper.
“Peace is not something that happens overnight. Peace is a very long-term commitment,” she said.
Drawing lessons from Northern Ireland, where a peace agreement has remained in place for more than two decades, Perekrests observed that although violence and conflict have declined, divisions and segregation persist among some communities.
She noted that while peace agreements are important in reducing hostilities, lasting peace also depends on transforming societal attitudes and everyday interactions.
Addressing Nigeria’s diverse security challenges, she advocated a combination of national coordination and community-based interventions.
Perekrests called for a whole-of-government approach to peacebuilding, explaining that every government institution, from the education and communications sectors to the presidency, has a responsibility to promote peace.
She, however, stressed that grassroots initiatives must accommodate the experiences, concerns and perspectives of local communities.
“When it comes to building peace on the ground, at the grassroots level, that’s where it needs to be inclusive of the local voices,” she said.
The peacebuilding expert also urged Rotary members and civil society organisations to take greater responsibility for sustaining peace, noting that the task should not end with the signing of agreements.
Reacting to questions about the implementation of peace agreements, particularly the proposed Peace Legacy Accord expected to emerge from the summit, Perekrests maintained that peacebuilding should not be left exclusively to political leaders and agreement signatories.
“I think it’s the duty of you, of me, of every Rotary member around the world, to be activists for peace, to be taking action on the local level to build towards peace,” she said.
She further emphasised that sustainable peace was a collective responsibility, requiring individuals and communities to make peaceful coexistence part of their everyday conduct.
About the all Nigeria rotary peace summit 2026
The All Nigeria Rotary Peace Summit 2026 is scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 7, at the Victoria Garden Event Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
Convened by Rotary International President, Yinka Babalola, the summit will be held under the theme, “Good Governance, Justice and Equity: Foundations for Sustainable Peace”, with the sub-theme, “From Dialogue to Action: Forging a Sustainable Peace Legacy in Nigeria”.
Perekrests, who is the Director of Partnerships at the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), is expected to deliver the keynote address titled, “Global Perspectives on Good Governance, Justice and Equity as Foundations for Sustainable Peace”.
The gathering is expected to attract peacebuilding experts, policymakers, academics, security professionals, Rotary leaders and civil society organisations to deliberate on practical approaches to addressing Nigeria’s peace and security challenges.
A major feature of the summit will be the signing of a Peace Legacy Accord and Agenda, as well as the presentation of a summit declaration and communiqué outlining stakeholders’ recommendations and commitments towards achieving sustainable peace in Nigeria.
