The Director General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, has urged African researchers and policy scholars to rise to the challenge of shaping Africa’s role in the rapidly changing global order. He made the call during the opening session of a high-level policy roundtable held in Abuja, focused on articulating Africa’s strategic response to global transitions.
Speaking at the event titled “The African Perspective on the Emerging Global Order,” Dr. Ochogwu said the time had come for the continent to move beyond being a passive recipient of global decisions and begin asserting its interests in international forums. According to him, Africa must claim its space in critical global conversations around climate change, economic systems, political alliances, and global financing mechanisms.
“Africa can no longer remain silent. We must be bold, active, and assertive in the new emerging global order,” he declared. “Our nations must collaborate across borders to develop a united front that reflects our collective aspirations and values.”
The roundtable, hosted by IPCR in collaboration with the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) and the International Peace Institute (IPI), forms part of a broader research initiative launched in July 2024. The initiative is aimed at producing a continent-wide policy framework that considers Africa’s diversity while proposing practical solutions for governance, security, and diplomatic engagement.
Dr. Ochogwu emphasized the need for African scholars to help reimagine the continent’s geopolitical future by identifying home-grown approaches to political stability and institutional reform. He noted that Africa, with its youthful population and vibrant diaspora, possesses the human capital needed to influence global systems from within.
Also speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on International Cooperation, Mr. Dapo Oyewale, called for unity among African states. He stressed that Africa must speak with one voice, even in its diversity, if it hopes to be taken seriously on the world stage.
“This is not just about diplomacy,” Mr. Oyewale noted. “It is about survival. Africa must ensure that its priorities are not sidelined in the reshaping of global alliances and power structures.”
The roundtable discussions are expected to culminate in policy recommendations that will be shared with African Union institutions, national governments, and global development partners.
As the world undergoes a seismic shift in international relations, African thinkers and policymakers are being called upon to drive the narrative and ensure the continent emerges not just as a participant, but as a key influencer in the new global order.
