By KEMI KASUMU
The Alumni Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (AANI) has announced a date for its pre-general elections conference on national unity in Nigeria.
The one-day high-level event, which it said is coming up due to its concern about the apparent divisive tendencies in the country, will be hosted to discuss the country’s unity with the theme, “Nigeria’s National Unity in the buildup to the 2023 General Elections”.
In a statement sent to The DEFENDER and signed by AANI National Publicity Secretary, Brigadier General Sani Usman Kukasheka (Rtd), it was said that the conference comes up on Tuesday 20th September 2022, by 9.00 am, at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre, Abuja.
“The Vice President Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN GCON, will declare the conference open, while a renowned elder statesman, former Chief of Defence Staff, and former Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Peacekeeping, General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), CFR, will be the Keynote Speaker.
“The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, CFR mni, who is the Chairman of AANI Heritage Council, will be the Royal Father of the day and Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory is the Chief Host.
“Other prominent Nigerians expected to attend include, the Executive Governor of Borno State, His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zullum, FNSE mni, His Excellency Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, mni, Executive Governor of Jigawa State, other State Governors, members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council, and eminent Nigerians from diverse backgrounds, as well as all members of AANI, among others,” General Kukasheka said.
The DEFENDER reports that since its establishment in 1979, AANI has been a reservoir and Think-Tank on Public Policies in Nigeria.
“As one of the foremost stakeholders in the Nigerian State, we are deeply concerned over the country’s growing insecurity, violent extremism, and ethno-religious crisis, especially as we approach the 2023 General Elections.
“This underscores the need to interrogate the circumstances that led to the present national challenges and proffer appropriate recommendations and implementation strategies,” said the AANI Spokesman.
