Rotary International President, Yinka Babalola, has called for sustained efforts to promote global peace, describing it as a necessary foundation for development and prosperity.
Babalola made the appeal on Saturday at the All Nigeria Rotary Peace Summit held in Lagos, where he urged stakeholders to adopt a broad-based approach to addressing conflicts, economic pressures and social tensions.
The summit, convened by Babalola, brought together participants from various sectors, including representatives of Junior Chamber International (JCI), the Swedish Embassy and the Nigeria Police Force.
Describing the gathering as a safe and neutral platform for dialogue, Babalola said the initiative was aimed at encouraging collaboration and developing practical solutions to peace and security challenges.
He said the summit would lead to the establishment of an ongoing stakeholders’ peace network and the development of a framework outlining policy recommendations and implementation steps at national and international levels.
The Rotary president, who is the second African to occupy the organisation’s highest leadership position, said Nigeria had considerable experience contributing to peace and stability across the continent.
He cited the country’s involvement in regional peace efforts through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as United Nations peacekeeping and peace support operations.
“Our work in Liberia and other parts of Africa shows that we have the experience and ability to help prevent and manage conflict beyond our borders,” he said.
Babalola urged Nigerians to apply the same commitment to resolving conflicts within the country, saying the nation’s peacebuilding efforts should begin at home.
He, however, cautioned that peace could not be imposed but must be nurtured from the grassroots through collective responsibility and sustained engagement.
Drawing on Rotary’s Positive Peace philosophy, he explained that lasting peace involved more than the absence of violence or conflict.
According to him, achieving peaceful societies requires attention to the attitudes, institutions and structures that promote stability and prevent violence.
He encouraged participants to contribute their knowledge and experience to efforts aimed at building a more peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
Babalola said the summit offered an opportunity to translate shared commitments into practical action and create a safer future for younger generations.
He also highlighted Rotary’s potential role in strengthening relationships between institutions and communities, building public trust and making peacebuilding initiatives more effective.
The Rotary International president stressed that achieving meaningful progress in Nigeria would require the willingness and courage to embrace change, regardless of whether individuals belonged to Rotary.
Among the dignitaries who attended the event were the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Sweden’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm; the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; and JCI representative, Abisogun Akinbode.
