Nigeria Discusses International Dialogue Membership

The Federal Government of Nigeria in partnership with the CSPPS Country Team in Nigeria organized a well-attended and successful consultative conference on 11th May 2017 focusing on the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding and the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States. During the conference a National Plan for the implementation of the New Deal principles was unveiled and the Federal Committee has been tasked to develop a National Action Plan within a month's time to give way to further implementation of these agreements in the context of Nigeria. The Honourable Khadija Buka A. Ibraham, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs graced the event alongside high level representatives from relevant government ministries, security agencies and civil society.Prominent donors present in the country were also in attendance and pledged to support the New Deal Implementation in Nigeria. Among those present were the African Regional Director for UNESCO and the Ambassadors of Finland and Norway.

The Nigerian government has expressed its expectations for receiving a formal invitation from the International Dialogue (signed by the Dialogue Co-chairs – Sweden and Sierra Leone) to join the Dialogue ranks and become a member and participant in the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding.

This is a milestone and one of the best practices recorded in the context of the Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (CSPPS). CSPPS Focal Point in Nigeria: Mr. Theophilus Ekpon - Executive Director of Centre for Sustainable Development and Education in Africa (CSDEA) has worked relentlessly to make this process possible and it is through his efforts that an interesting new partner is about to join the IDPS Membership.

For more information on this conference in Nigeria, please contact CSPPS Focal Point in Nigeria, Mr. Theophilus Ekpon: theophilusekpon@yahoo.com