*From left: The Alara of Ilara, Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo; Director of Partnerships at the Institute for Economics and Peace, Lea Prekerests; RI President Olayinka Babalola; The Rotary Foundation Trustee, Ijeoma Pearl Okoro; and the Chair of Central Planning Committee of All Nigeria Peace Summit, Dr. Kazeem Mustapha, at the opening of the summit in Lagos…on Saturday. Photo: Rotary International
Rotary International President, Yinka Babalola has called for global peace as a precondition for development.
The All Nigeria Rotary Peace Summit, held in Lagos on Saturday, Babalola, who is the second African to become Rotary’s No. 1 citizen worldwide, called for global peace as a precondition for development. He was the convener of the summit, which drew notable figures from the community, including representatives of Junior Chambers International (JCI), Swedish embassy, and the Nigeria Police Force.
Babalola described the summit as a safe and neutral platform for dialogue, noting that the region is grappling with complex and contextual conflicts, economic pressures and social tensions.
He said that the summit would produce an ongoing stakeholders’ peace network as well as a framework detailing policy recommendations and implementation steps at national and global levels.
According to the Rotary International President, Nigeria has enormous potential. “We have contributed to peace and stability across Africa, including through our work with the Economic Community of West African States and 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 recalled.
He charged Nigeria to turn those energies inward — “to bring our commitment to building peace among our neighbors and the world back home.”
He then cautioned: “But we cannot impose peace. We must nurture it from the very roots of our society so it may grow into a great tree that will feed and shelter all of us under its protective embrace.
“As a member of Rotary, when I consider this idea, I look to the philosophy of Positive Peace.
“Peace, through this lens, is so much more than the absence of violence. To achieve true and lasting peace, we must consider the attitudes, institutions, and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies.
Babalola said that peace is more than the absence of conflict. He urged participants to contribute their wisdom and join the push for a more peaceful and prosperous country.
He called for a broad-based approach, saying lasting peace depends on the attitudes, institutions and structures that sustain society, and requires every level of society to work together for the common good.
According to Babalola, the summit is an opportunity to translate shared commitment into practical action and to secure a brighter future for children.
He also said that Rotary can help build confidence between institutions and communities, strengthen public trust and make peacebuilding more effective.
He, however, cautioned that meaningful impact in Nigeria requires the courage to change, whether or not one is a Rotary member.
The event welcomed personalities including Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos; Anna Westerholm, Sweden’s Ambassador to Nigeria; Olatunji Disu, the Inspector-General of Police; and Abisogun Akinbode, the JCI representative.
