Eight decades after the end of the Second World War, scholars and diplomats in Lagos have urged the world to draw lessons from the devastating conflict to strengthen peace, multilateralism, and global governance.
The call came at the Lagos Sub-Forum of the 80th Anniversary of the Second World War, themed “The United Nations and the Search for a New Global Governance.” The event, jointly hosted by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, also featured the opening of a photo exhibition.
Speaking at the ceremony, Consul General of China in Lagos, Ms. Yan Yuqing, described World War II — or the World Anti-Fascist War, as China calls it — as “the largest and most devastating conflict in human history.” She recalled that more than 80 countries and two billion people were drawn into the war, which claimed tens of millions of lives and caused trillions of dollars in economic losses.
Yuqing stressed that peace must never be taken for granted. “Peace is never granted; it is earned through the sacrifice of countless lives. Any attempt to deny historical aggression, whitewash war crimes, or glorify militarism should be firmly opposed,” she said.
She highlighted China’s sacrifices — over 35 million casualties and 14 years of resistance against Japanese invasion — and noted Africa’s contributions, including nearly 100,000 Nigerians enlisted in the Allied war effort and 2.5 million Africans providing military support and logistics. “War is a mirror, reminding us of the preciousness of peace,” she added, urging China and Nigeria to deepen cooperation in building a fairer world order.
Research Director at the NIIA, Prof. Efem Ubi, said the commemoration was not only about history but also about preventing future wars. “War does not add value to humanity. It destroys development and undermines economies. The authoritarianism and hegemonism that fueled the Second World War are still with us in today’s world,” he cautioned. He called on young people to learn the causes of past wars to help prevent their recurrence, stressing poverty reduction, climate action, and multilateralism as essential steps toward peace.
The Director-General of the NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, described the forum as a moment of reflection on how the world has changed since 1945. He noted that while only four African countries were UN founding members, today 54 nations from the continent sit in the organisation. “The UN has been the voice of the voiceless — leading decolonisation, supporting poverty reduction, and advancing climate change action,” he said. But he warned that structural problems, including the dominance of the P5 powers in the Security Council, have limited its effectiveness.
Osaghae urged reforms to make the UN more inclusive, calling for African representation at the Security Council in line with the Ezulwini Consensus. “At 80, the UN is finalising its Pact for the Future. Greater inclusivity, equity, and cooperation are critical if it is to remain relevant in tackling today’s crises, from climate change to global health,” he said.
For Professor of International Relations, Femi Otunbanjo, the biggest lesson from the Second World War is the need for stronger institutions of peace. While commending the UN for its humanitarian achievements, he criticised its failures in conflict resolution.
“As we speak, there are devastating wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and Yemen. The United Nations appears helpless. Unless you reform the Security Council, you’re not going to get anywhere,” he said. He argued that the UN’s veto system, created 80 years ago, now undermines global democracy.
Lecturer of Political Science at Lagos State University, Dr. Tobi Oshodi, emphasised the need to rethink multilateralism beyond the lens of powerful states. He described the Second World War as not just a military struggle but a defining moment that shaped collective security and the global governance system. Drawing lessons from that era, he argued that inclusive development today requires more than political and economic reform — it must also address health and environmental inequalities. Africa, he noted, should not only sign global agreements to be part of governance conversations but must also ensure that development priorities are not sidelined.
Oshodi pointed to the transitional nature of Africa’s position in the global order, describing it as interconnected with Latin America and Asia, much like the solidarities forged among colonised peoples during and after World War II.
He also warned that if the UN continues to fail in tackling crises, alternative platforms such as BRICS may increasingly step in, replicating the post-1945 shift that saw new institutions emerge from the ruins of war.
