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IPCR Set To Expand Focus on Regional Crises in Africa – Director General
By Gloria Ikibah
The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has disclosed plans to extend its scope beyond Nigeria’s internal conflicts to address key regional crises across Africa, including the situation in the Sahel following France’s withdrawal and the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Director-General of IPCR, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, who stated this at a strategic meeting with the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) in Abuja, and emphasised the need for a broader approach to conflict resoresolution
He acknowledged that while the Institute has primarily focused on Nigeria’s internal challenges, regional instability and diplomatic hurdles also require attention. According to him, IPCR’s mandate includes projecting Nigeria’s soft power across the continent through peacebuilding initiatives.
Dr. Ochogwu reiterated the Institute’s commitment to working with international organizations to prevent and resolve conflicts, support post-conflict reconstruction, and promote sustainable peace and development across Africa.
He said: “This year, actually, I am committed, and my management is committed to running a lot of things. We are going to be doing French withdrawal from the Sahel, the issue around the Sahel, the DRC crisis, and how we project Nigeria’s soft power approaches across the continent of Africa, which is our primary mandate.
“The Institute over the years has scaled its operation largely to internal conflicts, which is not supposed to be”.
The IPCR boss stressed the importance of media collaboration in achieving IPCR’s objectives, and noted that research without proper dissemination has little impact.
“The media is central to the work that we do. If you want to advocate for change in any society, the critical role of the media is paramount,” he stated.
Dr. Ochogwu also highlighted the need for greater engagement between Nigeria’s foreign policy experts and the public to counter misinformation and ensure accurate narratives on international issues. He called for improved visibility of Nigeria’s diplomatic and research institutions in global discussions, emphasizing that official statements must be carefully framed to reflect the government’s position without misinterpretation.
The Chairman of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association (DICAN), Comrade Idehai Frederick, earlier in his address said the association has been collaborating closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all foreign missions in the country to ensure accurate and timely dissemination of information to the public.
He announced that DICAN’s annual lecture for this year would be held soon, featuring foreign policy experts and scholars who will provide insights into the nation’s foreign policy objectives under the 4D agenda.
Comrade Idehai also highlighted the importance of continuous training and capacity-building for DICAN members by all agencies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He emphasized that such training would enhance their ability to report effectively on developments within the diplomatic and foreign affairs sector.
He further stated that the meeting with DICAN executives reinforced the critical role of diplomatic correspondents in shaping foreign policy discourse and promoting public awareness of Nigeria’s global engagements.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, February 20, 2025, endorsed to two bills establishing the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Iragbiji in Osun State, and the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State.
He said these specialised institutions will address the educational needs of the populace while driving research and innovation and contributing to the country’s overall economic growth and development.
He said the institutions will serve as training grounds for developing agriculture, science and technology professionals and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy.
According to the National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigeria currently has 63 approved federal universities, 63 State universities, and 149 private universities.
On February 3, 2025, the president approved the establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET) in Ogoni town of Tai, Rivers State.
Tinubu also consented to the federal government’s takeover of a forfeited private university in Southern Kaduna and its transformation into a federal university.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that France was entering a “new era” and that he planned to tell US President Donald Trump he could not “be weak” with Vladimir Putin.
Macron spoke to the French ahead of a planned visit to the White House to meet Trump next week, as Europe scrambles to respond to his Ukraine war shift.
“I’m going to tell him: ‘You can’t be weak with President Putin. That’s not who you are, it’s not your trademark, it’s not in your interest’”, Macron said as he answered questions from the French public on social media.
Trump will meet in Washington with Macron on Monday and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday next week, the White House said.
Trump has sent shock waves around Europe by saying he is ready to resume diplomacy with Putin to end Russia’s three-year war against Ukraine, over the heads of European countries and Kyiv.
In recent days French officials have said the French public needed to understand the magnitude of the threat coming from the Kremlin.
Macron told reporters earlier this week: “Russia poses an existential threat to Europeans.”
On Thursday, the French president said that France needed to beef up security amid the shock policy shift in US-Russia relations.
I am convinced that we are entering a new era. It will impose choices on us,” Macron said. “We Europeans must increase our war effort.”
Macron stressed he did not plan to send troops to Ukraine “tomorrow” but indicated that France was considering providing security guarantees to Ukraine following a ceasefire deal with Russia.
“I have not decided to send troops to Ukraine tomorrow, no,” he said.
“What we are considering instead is sending forces to guarantee peace once it has been negotiated,” he said.
Speaking to AFP earlier Thursday, a French source familiar with the discussions said France was working with European countries to ensure security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire agreement.
Macron also said he planned to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later Thursday.
AFP
…as bandits demand N100m ransom
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
An ex- presidential candidate, Eniola Ojajuni, has been reportedly shot and abducted by bandits in Abuja.
Mr Ojajuni was abducted from his vehicle on Monday, family sources revealed.
Mr Ojajuni was the presidential candidate of the defunct Alliance for Democracy, in 2019.
The politician was on his way to a meeting when he was attacked.
“The kidnappers have reached out to his (Mr Ojajuni) wife, demanding a ransom of N100 million,” said a source on Thursday.
The source also revealed that Mr Ojajuni, the national president of the Afenifere Youths Council, was shot in the buttocks during the attack.
“The Afenifere National Youths Council is deeply saddened to announce the kidnapping of its national president, Prince Eniola Joseph Ojajuni, in Abuja, Nigeria.
“During the kidnapping, Prince Ojajuni sustained a bullet wound on his buttock. We are deeply concerned about his safety and well-being, and we urge the kidnappers to release him unharmed,” the youth group said in a statement.
The FCT police command spokeswoman, Josephine Adeh, could not be immediately reached for a comment.
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