General Agwai Advocates for Fairness and Inclusivity as Key to Global Peace

General Martin Luther Agwai, former Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of the Middle Belt Brain Trust (MBBT), emphasized that lasting peace can only be achieved through fairness, equity, and inclusiveness. Speaking at a workshop aimed at senior government officials, Agwai discussed the growing global challenges posed by extremism and violent rivalries, underscoring the importance of addressing these issues to foster long-term peace.

The event, a conflict sensitivity workshop organized by the Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA) in collaboration with MBBT and the Institute for Integrated Transition (IFIT), was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). Agwai’s remarks centered on the rise of violent conflicts across the globe, from the Middle East to Sub-Saharan Africa, and the role of modern connectivity in spreading extremist ideologies. He emphasized that conflict prevention should focus on sustainable peacebuilding, referencing the United Nations and World Bank’s Pathways for Peace report, which shows that every $1 invested in preventing conflict can save $16 in post-conflict recovery.

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The former Army Chief further warned that diverting resources to resolve conflicts hinders development and that addressing contemporary conflicts in regions like the Middle Belt should be approached with locally driven, research-based solutions. Agwai’s call for a region-specific approach to peacebuilding reflects the MBBT’s mission to tackle governance challenges in states such as Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Taraba.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, who inaugurated the workshop, reinforced Agwai’s message by acknowledging that conflict is an inevitable part of society, whether on a personal or larger scale. Mutfwang highlighted the state’s rich ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity and its implications for local and global peace. He praised the collaboration between the PPBA and MBBT, stressing that initiatives like these are critical to fostering sustainable peace across Plateau and neighboring states.