Shaping Africa’s Democratic Future: AFRPN Hosts AU Governance Lecture

Shaping Africa’s Democratic Future: AFRPN Hosts AU Governance Lecture

Abuja, Nigeria — The Association of Foreign Relations Practitioners of Nigeria (AFRPN) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing democratic governance and strengthening diplomatic capacity across Africa as it hosted a high-level public lecture on Democracy and Governance, drawing senior diplomats, policymakers, scholars, and security experts.

Welcoming participants, the President of AFRPN, Ambassador Gani Lawal, said the lecture was deliberately designed to interrogate one of the most pressing challenges confronting the diplomatic profession—the state of democratic governance in Africa, its evolving trends, and the opportunities for consolidation.

According to him, the Association remains committed to providing a credible platform for listening to and learning from distinguished international and regional experts who have played decisive roles in shaping Africa’s democratic trajectory and influencing policy choices across the continent.

Ambassador Lawal described the selection of Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, as guest lecturer as both timely and strategic, noting that few individuals are better positioned to address the intersection of democracy, peace, and governance in Africa.

He further recalled AFRPN’s tradition of intellectual engagement inspired by Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, highlighting past lectures delivered by eminent personalities whose insights have enriched Nigeria’s foreign policy discourse. He announced that a compendium of selected lectures was formally presented at the event, describing it as a timeless contribution to policy analysis and scholarly inquiry.

Ambassador Lawal also underscored AFRPN’s sustained commitment to professional development through mentoring and capacity-building programmes for serving and retired Nigerian diplomats, including free training initiatives focused on practical diplomacy and multilateral engagement. He called on relevant institutions to support these efforts, stressing that continuous training remains essential for effective foreign representation.

In his opening remarks as Chairman of the occasion, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Chairman Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development commended AFRPN for sustaining a disciplined and intellectually rigorous platform for foreign policy engagement. He stressed that foreign policy is not about rhetoric, but about defining national values, projecting interests abroad, and managing international relations responsibly.

Delivering the keynote lecture, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye thanked AFRPN for the invitation and described democracy as an evolving process rather than a one-off event. He emphasised that democracy should be understood as a set of shared values, including popular sovereignty, rule of law, social justice, political equality, accountability, participation, pluralism, and justice without exception.

He noted that the African Union, representing 55 member states, has emerged as a central pillar for promoting democratic norms on the continent, even as it confronts challenges posed by unconstitutional changes of government. Ambassador Adeoye highlighted the AU’s Constitutive Act as a defining break from the era of the Organisation of African Unity, embedding the principles of non-indifference and zero tolerance for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

According to him, the establishment of the Peace and Security Council marked a historic commitment by Africa to reject military rule and unconstitutional seizures of power, reinforcing the continent’s collective resolve to uphold democracy, peace, and good governance.

The lecture concluded with renewed calls for vigilance, institutional strengthening, and collective responsibility in consolidating democratic governance across Africa.