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.