Rotary International President Olayinka Hakeem Babalola is set to convene a national peace summit in Lagos on November 7, 2026, as Nigeria prepares for its forthcoming general elections.
The All Nigeria Rotary Peace Summit 2026 will bring together Rotarians, policymakers, community leaders, peace advocates and other stakeholders to discuss practical approaches to achieving lasting peace in the country.
According to a statement issued by the summit’s organising committee chairman and past district governor, Kazeem Mustapha, the conference will focus on how Nigeria can strengthen the conditions necessary for sustainable peace.
Babalola said peace should not remain an aspiration but must be actively promoted through communities, institutions and everyday relationships.
“Peace must become more than something we wish for. It must be something we deliberately build in our communities, through our institutions and in the way we treat one another,” he said.
The summit, themed “Good Governance, Justice and Equity: Foundations for Sustainable Peace,” will take place at the Victoria Garden Event Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
The organisers said the event would examine the links between good governance, justice, fairness, economic opportunities and community development, while identifying practical ways for different groups to work together towards peace.
They noted that lasting peace goes beyond the absence of conflict, requiring inclusive institutions, dialogue, mutual understanding and communities where people feel secure about their future.
The statement also highlighted Rotary’s involvement in community-based initiatives across Nigeria and other parts of the world, including peacebuilding, education, healthcare, economic empowerment, water and sanitation, and community development.
According to the organisers, the summit will provide an opportunity to bring lessons from these initiatives into a broader national discussion, particularly as the country approaches another election cycle.
Rotarians, traditional rulers, young people, professionals, civil society organisations, private-sector representatives, development partners and government officials have been invited to participate in the meeting.
The organisers described the summit as a platform for reflection, dialogue and collective action, stressing that building a peaceful society requires the commitment of individuals, institutions and communities across the country.
