The sprawling auditorium of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs today, hosted the book launch of Ambassador Ejeiviome Eloho Otobo, who wrote the book titled Consolidation Peace In Africa: The Role of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission.
Present at the well-attended book launch were diplomatic heavyweights such as Ambassador (Dr.) Martins I. Uhomoibhi, former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and founder of the Pan-African Institute for Global Affairs and Strategy, H.E. Chief Emeka Anyaoku, CFR, CON, GCVO, former Commonwealth Secretary General, Professor Ibrahim A. Gambari, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and Former United Nations Under-Secretary General among other distinguished diplomats.
In his opening remarks, Chief Emeka Anyaoku said it was a pleasure for him to chair the occasion considering the fact that he holds the author of the book in high esteem. "It is a great honour to chair this occasion considering the fact that I've had positive acquaintances with the author in the past. I remember meeting with him in 2005 when the then UN Secretary General invited me for a forum for NEPAD (New Partnership for African Development). While at the forum, Eloho (the author of the book) brought his wealth of experience to bear at the forum and he also displayed his great grafting skills which to me are excellent. Conflict and the challenge of peacebuilding was one of the objectives of NEPAD and I am happy the author continued to throw more light in that stead. The book will surely serve as a reference point for policy makers as it contains requirement for post conflict peace building and post conflict reconstruction."
Guest Speaker, Professor Ibrahim Gambari said that peace building involves promoting reconciliation which in turn accelerates social and political development.
"Conflict causes significant destruction and it is a decent thing to to help those who are suffering conflict. It can be contagious and if care is not taken, such conflicts can also affect us. It of note that 50% of conflicts relapsed because of lack of peace consolidation. Peace strategies should be designed to consolidate and strengthen peace around us. As the military continues to win the war against Boko Haram there must be de-radicalisation of the youths, support integration of internally displaced persons and undertake reconstruction in such regions to avoid a relapse. It is suffice to say that this book is timely and also high on international agenda."
The author, Eloho Otobo thanked all who gathered for the launch while stating the obvious about how difficult peace keeping can be in today's world.
The well written book which has been described in some quarters as timely and high on international agenda was launched in collaboration with the Pan African Institute of Global Affairs and Strategy (PAIGAS) and the New Diplomat Newspaper.
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
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