Nigeria’s Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu, has been elected as the African representative to the Bureau of the Standing Committee on Peace and International Security at the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), currently underway in Tashkent.

Senator Ngwu was nominated for the prestigious position by Nigeria and the West African sub-region. He is attending the high-level gathering in Uzbekistan alongside other members of Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives.

The Standing Committee on Peace and International Security plays a critical role in shaping the global parliamentary response to threats against international peace. The committee provides “Member Parliaments the political framework for effective action on global threats,” according to the IPU.

It serves as a platform to examine developments in global peace and security and recommend actionable responses.

While originally focused on conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, the committee has expanded its scope to address emerging global challenges such as terrorism, cybersecurity, nuclear proliferation, and governance issues that fuel regional conflicts.

The committee meets twice annually, allowing all member parliaments to contribute to agenda setting, engage in debates, and help draft key resolutions. It produces a major resolution each year for adoption by IPU members.

Senator Ngwu’s election to the bureau marks a significant recognition of Nigeria’s ongoing contributions to international diplomacy and peacebuilding.