The pioneer and immediate past Commissioner for Homeland Security in Imo State, Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji, was among several international scholars and military personnel who participated in the just concluded African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit 2025.
The seminal summit was attended by all fifty-four African nations and their Defence Chiefs. It was hosted by the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The summit was kicked off on Monday, August 25, 2025, with the Special Guest of Honour, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shetima, declaring the gathering open.
The theme of the conference was “Combating Contemporary Threats to Continental Peace and Security.”
Dr. Ugorji was invited in recognition of his pioneering role and contributions as commissioner for Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs in Imo State.
His capacity as a published international scholar in security and peace studies was also acknowledged in the invitation.
During a chat with journalists in Abuja, Ugorji who served as Imo State Commissioner from 2021 to 2024, said that Imo State faced most of the issues addressed at the conference, with Governor Hope Uzodimma meeting the challenges superbly.
“From cross-border criminal syndicates, to insurgencies, and politically motivated violence, Governor Hope Uzodimma factored all of these challenges in creating the Ministry of Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs,” he said.
He commended General Musa for the great success in getting African nations to look inwards for solutions to their security challenges.
The former Commissioner also commended Governor Uzodimma for “pulling Imo State from the precipice of anarchy and loss of sovereignty during his first term as governor.”
As the man who coordinated security architecture with the governor, Ugorji said that Uzodimma made security a top priority of the government of Imo State.
However, he expressed belief that security needs to move from being a top priority to being “The Top Priority”.
“Without security, there would be no meaningful development in any state.
“And without development, security and peace cannot be sustained,” Ugorji asserted.
He said that he will share with the governor, an updated security and peace plan that “would be far reaching and global in outlook, Igbo-centered in philosophy, and community based, with commitment to human rights and civil liberties.”
Ugorji went on to say that if it was up to him, he would elevate the Ministry of Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs to be the top agency in Imo State for the foreseeable future.
He said: “We must, as a matter of urgency, gain control of all ungoverned spaces in Imo State.
“And we must, through peace orientation programs, return our people to what used to be our exemplary value for human life.”
He lamented the devaluing of human life that has permeated the society and said changing it would require everyone’s effort, not just the government.
Ugorji noted that he established the Imo State Ministry of Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs, the ministry adopted a logo that has a dove with olive branches, clutching arrows.
The dove, he said, stands for peace, which is the ultimate goal of the ministry; the olive branches symbolize the readiness of the state to engage in dialogues for peace.
The quiver of arrows, according to him, represents the readiness of the state to neutralize threats by force if necessary.
“A state or nation is as strong as its security agencies,” Ugorji opined.
“Even our economic activities of production, manufacturing and service provision are dependent on security and safety,” he added.
The former Commissioner, it could be recalled, authored a book entitled “Securing the Homeland: Essays in Security Leadership, Intelligence Analysis, and Crisis Management”.
He took the opportunity of the chat with journalists to commend the men and women of the armed forces and other security agencies in the country and on the African continent.
Expressing gratitude, he said: “We cannot thank our service men and women enough for their sacrifices.
“They forego their sleep so that we might sleep safely. And they put their lives on the line so that we may stay alive.”
When asked, Ugorji did not deny or confirm rumours that he plans to run to succeed Governor Uzodimma in 2028.
He did, however, say that if he ran, security and peace would be the top priority of his agenda.