Africa’s Savannah Centre begins 3-day summit in Abuja ahead of UN 75th anniversary

The Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD) has begun it’s three-day summit ahead of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

The event is currently going on at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria, and is expected to last from March 4th to 6th, 2024.

The summit entitled “The Africa We Want and the UN We Need: A Regional Dialogue for the Summit of the Future”, was declared open by SCDDD Founding Chairman, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

Prof. Gambari, it could be recalled, was former Foreign Minister of Nigeria, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, and co-Chairman of the Commission on Global Security, Justice and Governance.

The summit sought, among other things, the restructuring of the United Nations to accommodate Africa in line with its numerous challenges, especially security issues.

It had in attendance the president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.

Other dignitaries include former Nigerian president, who was represented by his former Senior Special Assistant on Media, Malam Shehu Garba, the UN Secretary General’s representative, UN Coordinating Office in Dakar, Senegal, Leonardo Santos Simao, Senior Fellow and Director of the Global Governance, Justice and Security Program, Stimson Center, and Co-Director of Global Governance Innovation Network, Dr. Richard Ponzio.

Other are the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, the former Hon. Commissioner for Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs in Imo State, Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji, the Representative of EU in Nigeria, Representative of African Traditional rulers, HRM Oba Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin, Representative of the African Youth, Ms. Sabina Nforba, et al.

The opening of the dialogue was done by Senator Akume, on behalf of President Tinubu.

Meanwhile, the keynote address, “The Africa We Want and the UN We Need: An African Perspective on the Summit of the Future“, was delivered by the former President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), and Finance Minister of Rwanda, who is also a Member of the Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism, Mr. Donald Kaberuka.

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, also contributed to the event via a recorded video message, while ace broadcaster, Mrs. Eugenia Abu, was the host of the occasion.

The event will be characterised by break away sessions wherein participants will brainstorm on topical issues involving (in)security in the various African regions and the world at large.

Details of the summit will be published subsequently on YouTube and other channels later.

See pictures of the event below:

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