In Geneva, Akpabio urges parliaments to step beyond ceremonial roles and become ‘peace architects,’ writes KEN HARRIES
In the majestic halls of the Palais des Nations in Geneva, where the world’s parliamentary leaders gathered to wrestle with crises that threaten the very fabric of humanity, Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, strode onto the podium with the composure of a man forged in storms and determined to chart a new course. At the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments, convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in partnership with the United Nations from 29 to 31 July 2025, Senator Akpabio delivered an address entitled “Courage to Legislate, Will to Lead.”
To be clear, this was no ordinary speech. It was a manifesto of resilience, a call to parliaments to transform turbulence into resolve, and a clear signal that Nigeria intends to play a more assertive role in shaping global governance. Akpabio’s words reverberated far beyond the stately walls of the United Nations complex, echoing across continents as a clarion call for parliaments to rise as architects of peace, justice, and shared prosperity.