International peacebuilding expert, Lea Perekrests, has arrived in Lagos ahead of the All Nigeria Rotary Peace Summit 2026, praising the warmth, kindness and energy of Nigerians.
Speaking to journalists a few hours after landing, Perekrests said she was impressed by the reception she had received, describing the energy of Nigerians as “really, really incredible”.
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She stressed that building sustainable peace requires strong institutions, inclusive governance and active community participation, adding that peace goes beyond the absence of violence.
Perekrests explained that peace should be understood from two perspectives.
Negative peace, she said, refers to the absence of conflict or the fear of conflict, while positive peace involves the attitudes, institutions and structures that enable societies to sustain peaceful coexistence.
According to her, Nigeria must look beyond efforts to stop violence and invest in the conditions that allow communities to thrive.
“Peace is not something that happens overnight. Peace is a very long-term commitment,” she said.
Drawing on the experience of Northern Ireland, where a peace agreement has held for more than 20 years, Perekrests noted that violence and conflict have reduced, yet communities remain segregated.
She said peace agreements can deliver important results, but lasting peace also requires changes in people’s attitudes and everyday practices.
On how Nigeria should respond to its varied security challenges across regions, she advocated a combination of national coordination and locally driven solutions.
She recommended a whole-of-government approach, noting that every department, from education and communications to the presidency, has a role to play in peacebuilding.
She added that grassroots efforts must reflect the realities of local communities.
“When it comes to building peace on the ground, at the grassroots level, that’s where it needs to be inclusive of the local voices,” she said.
Perekrests also called on Rotary members and civil society organisations to take active responsibility for sustaining peace beyond the signing of agreements.
Responding to concerns about the implementation of peace agreements, including the proposed Peace Legacy Accord expected at the summit, she said peacebuilding should not be left solely to political leaders and signatories.
“I think it’s the duty of you, of me, of every Rotary member around the world, to be activists for peace, to be taking action on the local level to build towards peace,” she said.
She added that sustainable peace is a collective responsibility, and that everyone within a country or community must embody peace as a practice.
The All Nigeria Rotary Peace Summit 2026 will hold on Saturday, 7 November, at the Victoria Garden Event Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
Convened by Rotary International President, Yinka Babalola, the summit will run under the theme “Good Governance, Justice and Equity: Foundations for Sustainable Peace”, with the sub-theme “From Dialogue to Action: Forging a Sustainable Peace Legacy in Nigeria”.
Perekrests, who serves as Director of Partnerships at the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), is expected to deliver the keynote address titled “Global Perspectives on Good Governance, Justice and Equity as Foundations for Sustainable Peace”.
The summit will bring together peacebuilding experts, policymakers, academics, security professionals, Rotary leaders and civil society organisations to explore practical strategies for addressing Nigeria’s peace and security challenges.
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A major highlight will be the signing of a Peace Legacy Accord and Agenda, alongside the presentation of a summit declaration and communiqué outlining stakeholders’ recommendations and commitments towards sustainable peace.
