The President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Godswill Akpabio, Thursday called on parliaments worldwide to rise as defenders of peace, justice, and humanity, as he addressed delegates at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Speaking under the Assembly’s theme, “Nurturing Hope, Securing Peace and Ensuring Justice for Future Generations,” he noted that the gathering comes at a time of mounting global tension, with conflicts spreading across regions and testing the resilience of nations and institutions.
Speakers at the opening ceremony had similarly urged renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation and democratic values.
“I bring you warm greetings from the resilient people of Nigeria-a nation that has learned that peace is not inherited, it is built, defended, and sustained,” he said.
Drawing from Nigeria’s experience with conflict and nation-building, the Senate President stated the central role of legislatures as “the first hope of the masses” and described parliaments as “the conscience of the people.”
He warned that no region is immune to instability, citing ongoing conflicts across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, and called for a global shift from war to development.
“It is time to turn from destruction to construction and redirect the instruments of war towards the work of development,” he said.
Highlighting the human cost of the conflict, he stated that beyond casualty figures lie broken families and devastated communities.
Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., he reminded delegates of humanity’s shared destiny and called for collective action.