By Edith Tsokar
Prof. Danladi Atu, Director-General, African Peace Institute and Social Studies (APIS), has called for a shift from traditional state-centred security to a human-centred approach that prioritises the protection, dignity, welfare and participation of citizens.
Atu disclosed this in a communiqué issued by Dr Taiwo Orebiyi, Head, Department of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
The communique was issued at the end of an International Hybrid Conference organised by the department of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution of the institution from Sept. 1 to Sept. 2, 2026.
The conference has the theme: “Peace, Security, and the Human Condition: Navigating Conflict, Displacement, Gender Issues, and Artificial Intelligence in a Fractured World.”
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Atu said security should not be measured only by the absence of war, but by whether ordinary people could live without fear, want, exclusion and indignity.
“Security is meaningful only when it improves the condition of life of our people,” he said.
He noted that in spite of unprecedented technological advancement, Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital connectivity, scientific breakthroughs and greater global communication, humanity continued to face violent conflicts, and other societal challenges.
He described the situation as a paradox in which humanity had become more technologically capable without necessarily becoming more humanly secure.
Atu said the threats confronting societies were increasingly interconnected and therefore required equally interconnected responses across national and institutional boundaries.
According to him, human security should protect people from violence, exploitation and abuse, while also ensuring access to livelihoods, essential services, justice, freedom and participation in governance.
He explained that conflict transformation should complement conflict human security by converting conditions that fuel conflict into opportunities for development and improved welfare.
“Human security theory tells us what must be protected. Conflict transformation theory tells us what must change,” he said.
He called for greater inclusion of women, youths and communities in peace and security architecture, saying they should not be regarded merely as victims of conflict.
Atu noted that, women, youths and communities could serve as mediators, negotiators, early-warning actors, community peace builders and decision makers.
On displacement, he warned that the effects of conflict continued long after violence stopped, often resulting in loss of livelihoods, trauma, exclusion, poverty, youth vulnerability and social fragmentation.
He advocated human-centred solutions to displacement and improved management of conflict to prevent the emergence of new conflicts.
Atu also raised concerns over the growing influence of AI, stressing that technological development must remain subject to ethical considerations.
He said AI should serve humanity rather than replace, dominate, manipulate or diminish the dignity of the human person.
“Technology without humanity is dangerous,” he said, describing humanisation as the principle that should connect efforts toward peace, security and development.
He said the ultimate test of any security system should be whether ordinary people could live without fear and want, while enjoying dignity, justice, protection and hope.
“If the answer is yes, we are building peace. If the answer is no, we must change the architecture completely,” he said.
The scholar further stressed the need to “humanise” security policies and ensure that policy formulation reflected the realities of the people they were designed to serve.
Also, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, Mr Mainul Kabir, highlighted the need for global cooperation on peace, economic development, and technological advancement.
Kabir shared Bangladesh’s experiences in UN peacekeeping operations, poverty reduction, food security, and women empowerment, noting that over 280 female military and police personnel from Bangladesh were currently serving in nine UN peacekeeping missions.
He emphasised that while AI presented opportunities for development in health, education, and agriculture, safeguards were necessary to prevent misuse such as disinformation and cyber threats.
The High Commissioner reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and sharing technical expertise with Nigeria across agriculture, ICT, and microcredit sectors.
The Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Uduma Uduma, who was represented by Shehu Adamu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said AI could provide opportunities for conflict prediction, early warning and humanitarian response.
Uduma, however, cautioned that the growing application of AI also raised concerns over misinformation, ethics and the responsible use of data.
“The inclusion of artificial intelligence in this conference is particularly commendable because AI offers opportunities for conflict prediction, early warning system, humanitarian response, research, and peace intervention.
“At the same time, it raises concerns regarding misinformation and the ethical use of AI and the data provided therein,” he said.
The vice-chancellor said the conference theme reflected the realities of a world increasingly affected by conflict, insecurity, forced displacement, gender-related challenges and rapid technological changes.
Uduma urged universities to go beyond identifying social problems through research and contribute practical solutions through innovation and meaningful dialogue.
He commended the Faculty of Social Sciences, particularly the Department of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, for organising the conference.
Uduma urged participants to ensure that their deliberations translated into meaningful recommendations for scholarship, policy and practice.
Also, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, NOUN, Prof. Kamal Bello said Nigeria had been grappling with insecurity since 2009, making it necessary for academics to continuously examine pathways toward peace and security.
Bello also highlighted food insecurity, displacement, gender inequality and technological developments as issues requiring sustained scholarly attention.(NAN)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi