Stakeholders from across Nigeria and beyond—academics, security chiefs, policymakers, traditional leaders, students, humanitarian actors, and peace practitioners—gathered in Ibadan on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, for the opening ceremony of the 19th International Annual Conference and General Assembly of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP).

The conference, held at the Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre, University of Ibadan, marked another milestone in the remarkable journey of a society that began as a small gathering of peace scholars under the visionary leadership of Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert, now celebrated globally as one of Africa’s most influential voices in peace and conflict studies.

Just like yesterday, what a small group of passionate scholars conceived has today metamorphosed into a globally recognized professional body—a society that Nigeria and the international community continue to rely on for thought leadership, research, and practical interventions in peacebuilding.

Prof. Albert, the host of the 2025 conference, has spent over two decades nurturing what many today describe as a movement. A man who sees peacebuilding not just as a career but as a gift to society, his legacy continues to shape policies, institutions, and generations of peace practitioners across Africa.

This year’s conference, themed “Economic Challenges and the Tasks of Building Sustainable Peace in a Globalised World,” attracted eminent dignitaries including General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), former Chief of Defence Staff; Chief Adebisi Akande, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Ibadan; Dr. Abiodun Essiet, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Community Engagement; Prof. Kayode Adebowale, Vice Chancellor and Chief Host; Prof. Elias Bogoro, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Mr. Nathaniel Msen Awuapila, SPSP President; Hon. Aondowase Kunde, Benue State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management; Kemi Nanna Nandap, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service; and Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly.

A major highlight of the ceremony was the investiture of 40 new Fellows of SPSP, recognizing outstanding contributions to peace and national development.

Speakers reflected on the troubling intersection between economic hardship and national insecurity, calling for renewed commitment to conflict prevention, community resilience, and strategic peace building efforts.