Ex-Vice President Osinbajo, Traditional Rulers Seek End to N’Central Polarisation

Yemi Kosoko in Jos

Former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and policy experts have called for urgent action to counter growing polarisation and rebuild civic cohesion in North-central Nigeria.
They warned that injustice, impunity, and divisive narratives had continued to fuel conflict across the region.
The leaders spoke at a national dialogue organised by Justice Research Institute (JRI), in partnership with National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), under the theme, “Countering Polarisation and Rebuilding Civic Cohesion in North Central Nigeria: Beyond Tribe and Faith, Reclaiming Our Shared Stories.”
Osinbajo stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved without justice, accountability, and intentional reconciliation, drawing lessons from South Africa and Rwanda.
He said communities affected by violence and displacement must be helped to heal through truth-telling, restitution, and institutional reforms that restore confidence in the justice system.
He warned that impunity undermined social stability, and insisted that justice must include restitution and restoration.
Osinbajo stated, “People cannot simply be told to forget. Where land has been taken unjustly, it must be returned. Where people have suffered losses, appropriate compensation and justice are necessary for healing.”
For his part, NIPSS Director-General, Professor Ayo Omotayo, described storytelling as a powerful tool for national reconciliation, stating that societies are held together not only by laws and institutions but also by the stories citizens tell about one another.
Omotayo warned that distorted narratives, misinformation, and inherited prejudices could deepen divisions and undermine national development.
Equally addressing participants, Emir of Lafia, His Royal Highness, Justice Sidi Bage (Rtd), said conflict began when justice, identity, and belongings were denied.
Bage urged Nigerians to reject collective blame, ethnic profiling, and religious stereotyping, emphasising that dialogue, active listening, and mutual respect are essential for peaceful coexistence.
Secretary-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Professor Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, warned against exploiting ethnic and religious differences for political or social gain.
Aliyu called for stronger accountability, responsible communication and greater investment in youth employment, stating that widespread poverty and joblessness remain major drivers of insecurity.
Participants agreed that no community could achieve lasting peace by promoting the insecurity of another. They called for inclusive governance, stronger conflict-resolution mechanisms, support for displaced persons, and greater involvement of women and young people in peacebuilding efforts.

AUST Launches African Leadership Legacy Project, Appoints Dakuku Peterside as Director

Sunday Ehigiator

The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, has launched the African Leadership Legacy Project (AFRILEAP), a pan-African research and leadership development initiative aimed at strengthening institutions, promoting accountable governance and ensuring continuity of development policies across the continent.
The university, through its Centre for Pan-African and Peace Studies (CePAPS), appointed Dr. Dakuku Peterside, a leadership and public policy expert and former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), as director of the project, while Dr. Bosco Chukwudumebi Okolo-Obi, from the Centre Leader of CePAPS, was appointed Programme Manager.
Speaking at the launch, Peterside described the initiative as an opportunity for leaders to reflect on the enduring impact of their decisions, policies and contributions to society.
“AFRILEAP asks every leader one fundamental question: What do you want to be remembered for long after you are gone?” he said.
The project is designed to address a persistent governance challenge in Africa, where policies, reforms and development programmes are frequently discontinued following changes in political leadership or the departure of key executives.
Through research, evidence-based assessments and leadership development, AFRILEAP aims to promote institutions and systems capable of sustaining development outcomes beyond the tenure of individual leaders.
Commissioning the project, the President of AUST, Professor Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, pledged the university’s full support, assuring that it would provide an enabling environment for senior fellows and researchers to achieve the initiative’s objectives.
He commended the conceptualisation of AFRILEAP, noting that its vision aligned with the founding ideals of the Pan-African university and its commitment to advancing Africa’s development through research, innovation and human capacity development.
Also speaking at the commissioning, the Director of CePAPS, Professor Chudi Uwazurike, pledged the centre’s commitment to ensuring the success of the initiative and promoting its adoption and impact across the continent.
AFRILEAP will assess leadership legacies across five key dimensions: values transmission, institutionalisation of systems, human capacity development, socioeconomic impact, and public and organisational memory.
The framework will examine the legacies of historical figures, contemporary public-sector leaders and private-sector executives to generate insights into leadership effectiveness and the development of enduring institutions.
The project will commence fieldwork in Nigeria, with comparative studies planned in Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt and Rwanda.
Its multidisciplinary research team comprises scholars and practitioners based in Africa and the United Kingdom, with expertise spanning governance, technology, sustainability, peacebuilding, communications and leadership development.
The team includes Dr. Aminu Bello Usman, a computer science and cybersecurity specialist; Dr. Mohammed Dahiru Aminu, an expert in sustainability, governance and public policy; Mr. Richard Ali, a specialist in peacebuilding and institutional resilience; Dr. Jeff Ukachukwu, a communications and management strategist; and Dr. Sam Danso, an artificial intelligence researcher and strategic research leader.
Other members are Professor Olalekan Adekola, an expert in geography, environmental systems and climate adaptation; Dr. David Molapo, a South African leadership strategist and human capital development specialist; and Mrs. ZohAkiy Mbi-njifor Mbapeh, an expert in governance, executive leadership and organisational development.
Over the next 18 months, the project will prioritise the development of mathematical, psychometric and qualitative indicators to underpin the African Leadership Legacy Index.
The index is expected to provide a structured basis for assessing leadership impact beyond immediate accomplishments and short-term performance.
Other planned outputs include an African Leadership Legacy Framework, an open-access knowledge hub, policy briefs, Executive Legacy Masterclasses and a 12-month Future Legacy Leaders Fellowship.
The programmes are designed to strengthen leadership capacity, promote institutional learning and equip emerging leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to build sustainable legacies.
AFRILEAP also aims to provide policymakers, public institutions and private-sector organisations with evidence-based tools for assessing leadership beyond immediate achievements and political tenure.
The initiative seeks to encourage leaders to build resilient institutions, institutionalise effective systems and invest in developing future generations of leaders.
As part of efforts to advance its objectives, the project has invited development institutions, philanthropic foundations, corporate organisations and strategic partners to support its research, policy engagement and leadership development programmes.
The initiative is expected to contribute to a more accountable, sustainable and future-oriented leadership culture across Africa.