Home News Russia-Ukraine War: Stakeholders Brainstorm on options for Africa

Russia-Ukraine War: Stakeholders Brainstorm on options for Africa

 

By Princess-Ekwi Ajide,  Abuja

In a bid to cushion the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war on the African continent, stakeholders are brainstorming on the best option for the continent in Abuja.

Speakers at the 2022 annual lecture tagged “contending options for Africa in the face of super power hostilities: Roussoukeranian conflict as a case study” organised by Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria, agreed that non-alignment to any side in the war may be the solution for Africa to become truely recognised as independent by world powers.

For the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, non-alignment has become more relevant as a tool to achieving world peace and values, hence this is the time for Africans to unite for peace especially in recognition of the development in the world overtime.

He opined that Africa needs peace more than the waring nations as there is need to solve problems of insecurity, abject poverty and all other economic and social problems which can only be solved through peace hence Africa’s desire for peace must never change no matter how much the world changes.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, in his welcome address, said the need to proffer solutions to Africa’s problems can never be overemphasised.

Also, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, wondered why Africa still remains underdeveloped in spite of her landmass.

For the guest lecturer, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, the best option for Africa is multilateral approach so as to have a say in the comity of world powers as according to him, world powers need Africa because it offers very cheap breeding ground for support and urged Africans to remain neutral in certain situations to promote peace.

He stated that Africa must be in a position to make its own decisions to redefine her role in the present world that is akin to the period of cold war.

Earlier, the convener of the lecture, Ambassador Ademola Lawal, had noted that Africa needs to be self determined to earn a place amongst super powers

Ukraine’s representative at the meeting, said they also want peace as a country, but had to fight back because they had no other option cautioning that it may spell doom if countries especially Africa decides to remain neutral as no one knows whose turn it will be next.

The meeting further agreed that Africa needs to re-engage the world order and self determine on how she can recalibrate, reorganise and unite for peace.

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