In a major highlight of the 19th International Annual Conference of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), three high-profile Nigerians—Chief Adebisi Akande, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Ibadan; General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), former Chief of Defence Staff; and Dr. Abiodun Essiet, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Community Engagement—were among the distinguished personalities conferred with the prestigious Fellow of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (fspsp) award.

The investiture took place on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, during the opening ceremony of the four-day conference held at the Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre, University of Ibadan.

The 2025 conference, themed “Economic Challenges and the Tasks of Building Sustainable Peace in a Globalised World,” drew leading voices from academia, government, security institutions, and civil society. Stakeholders from across Nigeria and beyond gathered to discuss the growing intersection between economic instability and rising threats to global peace.

Founded 19 years ago under the visionary leadership of Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert, SPSP has grown into Nigeria’s leading professional body for peace scholars and practitioners, championing research, dialogue, and policy engagement. Its collaborative partnership with the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), University of Ibadan, has further strengthened its academic and global relevance.

Dignitaries at the opening ceremony included Prof. Kayode Adebowale, Vice Chancellor and Chief Host; Prof. Elias Sulaiman Bogoro, Chairman Board of Trustees; Mr. Nathaniel Msen Awuapila, SPSP President; Kemi Nanna Nandap, Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service; Hon. Aondowase Kunde, Benue State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management representing the governor; and Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly.

General C.G. Musa delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the urgent need to rebuild national cohesion, strengthen community resilience, and prevent the escalation of conflicts in an era of economic uncertainty. Other speakers underscored the link between peace and development, warning that Nigeria cannot achieve sustainable growth without deliberate investment in peacebuilding structures.

A total of 40 new Fellows were inducted during the ceremony, marking yet another milestone in SPSP’s mission to professionalize peace practice in Nigeria.

The event concluded with goodwill messages, networking sessions, and reflections on the Society’s near two-decade journey in shaping peace scholarship and practice in West Africa. The conference continues with technical sessions, panel discussions, and strategic engagements designed to deepen the discourse on peace in a rapidly changing global landscape.