By Paul Effiong, Abuja
Renowned defence and development consultant, Amb Wilson Babangida Agboti has emerged as a leading voice in continental peacebuilding following his active participation in the maiden Assembly of the Council of Emissaries of the International Forum for Peace and Diplomacy, IFPD, held in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
The high-level assembly, which took place two days ago at the National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, brought together senior emissaries and key stakeholders committed to advancing peace, diplomacy and sustainable development across Africa.
The historic meeting came weeks after Amb. Agboti’s appointment as Senior Technical Adviser on Defence and Sustainability Affairs to the IFPD, a position that places him at the centre of the Forum’s strategic engagement on sensitive security matters.
Discussions at the assembly centred on developing practical frameworks for engaging government authorities, grassroots communities and civil society partners in promoting durable peace and inclusive development across the continent.
During the session, Amb. Agboti formally submitted an African Security Briefing to the Director-General of the Forum, highlighting prevailing security challenges while proposing policy-driven and community-based approaches to peacebuilding.
In his well-researched address at the event, he reaffirmed his personal commitment and that of his transnational non-governmental organisation, Community Impact Affinity, CIA, to working closely with the IFPD in promoting national security through community engagement, advocacy, civil–military cooperation and peacebuilding initiatives.
Agboti further stressed that conflict prevention must take precedence over conflict resolution, reiterating that sustainable peace can only be achieved by identifying and addressing the root causes of instability before they escalate.
He also urged the leadership of the IFPD to consider establishing a Directorate of Civil–Military Cooperation, CIMIC, and appointing a dedicated envoy, expressing his readiness to collaborate in deploying non-kinetic approaches to peacebuilding within Nigerian communities.
In recent years, he has remained at the forefront of promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16, SDG 16, on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions through Community Impact Affinity, reinforcing his reputation as a consistent advocate for institutional strength and social cohesion.
It is important to note that Amb. Agboti is also an alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Security of the International Society of Diplomats, ISD.
He is also an Ambassadorial Member of World Citizen Peace and Founder of BA Integrated Services Ltd and GGSL Nig Ltd, leading firms specialising in ICT solutions, enterprise development and capacity-building services within Nigeria and beyond.
