The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), Prof. Elias Sulaiman Bogoro, has reaffirmed the Society’s emergence as a global platform for peace scholarship and practice, describing its hybrid structure of academics and field practitioners as one of its greatest strengths in shaping Nigeria’s peace and security landscape.

He made this declaration at the opening ceremony of the 19th International Annual Conference and General Assembly and Investiture of Fellows, held on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre, University of Ibadan, Bogoro commended the distinguished personalities who honoured the Society’s invitation, noting that their presence signaled a growing national commitment to peacebuilding.

He said SPSP had, over the years, transformed into a formidable intellectual and professional movement whose interventions continue to strengthen dialogue, conflict management, and policy improvement across the country.

“SPSP has a hybrid platform of practitioners and scholars, and through that we are able to impact Nigeria meaningfully,” Prof. Bogoro stated. “We are convincing Nigerians that the direction we are going is the right one, and so we are proud to recognize deserving individuals by giving them fellowship.”

The BOT Chairman praised the University of Ibadan for hosting the conference and for its long-standing support to peace scholarship. “It is a great privilege and honour to have the University of Ibadan host this conference,” he said. “Vice Chancellor sir, we are happy to be here, and we are happy to say that UI has been typically hospitable.”

Prof. Bogoro also announced that more universities and institutions across Nigeria had begun sponsoring SPSP initiatives and partnering with the Society in research, training, and capacity-building.

“Other institutions have started sponsoring SPSP and partnering with us. The Society is now a global brand, with growing visibility and influence in international peace and security conversations,” he added.

He emphasized that as Nigeria confronts complex economic and security challenges within a rapidly changing global environment, organizations like SPSP must rise to their responsibility of providing evidence-based solutions and strengthening national peace infrastructure.

Bogoro noted that the fellowship investiture—one of the key highlights of the ceremony reflected SPSP’s commitment to honouring individuals who have made notable contributions to peace, conflict resolution, security management, and humanitarian service.

He urged the newly inducted Fellows to uphold the values of integrity, scholarship, and service, describing them as ambassadors of peace in a country in urgent need of stability.

The event brought together scholars, policymakers, security professionals, development practitioners, and students under the conference theme: “Economic Challenges and the Tasks of Building Sustainable Peace in a Globalised World.”