The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Malick Fall, has reiterated the importance of international cooperation in solving the world’s most pressing issues, saying that when nations and people come together, they can overcome even the hardest challenges.

Fall asserted this at the dialogue convened in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) and the Office of Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), held at the UN House in Abuja.

He added, “In advancing its advocacy and sensitisation of critical stakeholders on the ‘Pact for the Future,’ the United Nations in Nigeria, in collaboration with partners, has convened a strategic dialogue on the United Nations at 80 and the Pact.”

According to him, “Peace is fragile. Inequalities grow. Climate change accelerates. Technology advances faster than governance. Yet one truth remains constant: when we come together to work and strategise, we will overcome even the hardest challenges.”

He said, “That is why the Pact for the Future matters,” and it is rested on five pillars: Sustainable Development, Peace and Security, Science and Technology, Youth and Future Generations, and Transforming Global Governance.”

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator further explained that the pillars were not abstract ideas, as they represent the foundation of the world we want—a world of peace, dignity, equality, and sustainability. That is why we are working hand in hand with Nigeria on the Pact.

“We are aligning our cooperation with the five pillars of the Pact and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as we know that the SDGs are lagging. We are leaving no one behind,” the UN Resident Coordinator added.

Also speaking, the former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalam Abubakar (Rtd), said, “Dialogue must now lead to tangible results. Our commitment must be credible, time-bound, and deliverable. Anything less can lead to distrust and weaken our democracy.”

“Your responsibility is to commit to concrete steps that will align every peacebuilding effort towards real progress. Nigeria’s future will be secured only by our unity of purpose and the sincerity of follow-through,” he stressed.

On his part, the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Syndoph Edoni, expressed appreciation for the dialogue, stating that it was not merely an exchange of views but a collective effort to advance the effective realization of the Pact for the Future and reinforce Nigeria’s peacebuilding framework.

He hinted that Nigeria was reviewing existing peacebuilding frameworks and initiatives by identifying key achievements, gaps, and opportunities for reform; prioritising critical areas of focus, including security sector reform, women’s participation in peace and security, and youth engagement.

Similarly, Edoni stated that by addressing cross-border terrorism, organised crime, and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, as well as climate-related security risks, there will be continued peace.

Contributing, Director of the United Nations Team for Pact Implementation, Themba Kalua, underlined Nigeria’s leadership role in this new era of multilateralism, adding that it has become an active voice in negotiating the Pact, pushing for progress on poverty eradication, digital cooperation, Security Council reform, and climate justice.

Kalua said, “It will strongly resonate with Africa’s Agenda 2063. Both envision a just, peaceful, and prosperous continent, powered by inclusive development and regional solidarity. Aligning the Pact with African priorities and national strategies will be essential to translate words into real change.”

Explaining further, he stated that Nigeria’s experience and leadership at regional and global levels make it a vital partner in this endeavour.

The Chairman of Savannah Centre and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, referenced the New Agenda for Peace, a United Nations policy brief launched in July 2023 by Secretary-General António Guterres, which outlines a vision for strengthening international cooperation to prevent conflict and build sustainable peace.

Gambari, a former Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, emphasised that the Agenda remains a living guide to everyone in promoting trust, solidarity, and universality through concrete actions, like investing in prevention and peacebuilding, empowering women and youth, reducing strategic risks from new technologies and climate change, and adapting to new forms of violence.