Gen Agwai to chair international conference on insecurity

General Martin Luther Agwai, a former Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff, is set to chair the 18th International Conference on Insecurity, scheduled for July 2024.

The conference’s theme is “Community Engagement: Networking Kinetic and Non-Kinetic Capabilities for Tackling Insecurity in Africa.”

General Agwai, who also serves as the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, will preside over the conference, which is organised by the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in partnership with the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP).

The conference aims to enhance the study and practice of peace to better manage Nigeria’s security challenges. Professor Freedom Onuoha from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is slated to deliver the keynote address.

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During a courtesy visit to NDA Commandant, Major General John Ochai as part of preparations for the 2024 International Conference, SPSP President Nathaniel Awuapila described the event as crucial for addressing security challenges in Africa.

He noted that the theme focuses on both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to managing insecurity on the continent.

Awuapila expressed appreciation for the NDA’s strategic partnership and its offer to host the conference, highlighting that the event will provide a platform for peace scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to engage in robust discussions.

In response, Major General John Ochai emphasised NDA’s significant contributions to national and international security as a research university offering numerous courses in peace studies. He stressed the importance of intellectual engagement in enhancing Nigeria’s peacekeeping efforts and integrating societal perspectives into government policy, underscoring the academy’s commitment to hosting the conference.

Ochai expressed hope that the communique issued at the conference would contribute to governance in Nigeria and Africa at large, stating, “If peace is not managed, conflict must arise.”