One of Nigeria’s Policy Think-tanks, the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA has urged Nigerians to consistently speak with one voice, especially in turbulent times.
The Director General of the Institute of NIIA, Professor Eghosa Osaghae gave this advice in Lagos at the one-day Distinguished Lecture series with the theme “Towards A New World Order.”
Professor Osaghae described the term “new world order” as the new period of history experiencing dramatic changes in world politics and the challenges of African countries, alongside the balance of power in international relations.
Professor Osaghae emphasised that the world is facing challenges on several fronts as never before when governments superintend affairs for a united global New world order.
He said; “There is no clear leader and it looks like a ship in turbulence and nobody seems to be in a position to manage it.” 1
“The New World Order, he said, is the struggle by Nations to be in pole position in world affairs by gaining an advantage in authority or power over others both military, economically and otherwise.”
Meanwhile, the former Director General of the NIIA and a “Commander of Federal Republic” awardee, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi in his lecture, spoke on the consequences and impact of wars on the global communities as a catalyst for a New World Order.
Also, a senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA Dr Joshua Bolarinwa noted that the International system has always been very dynamic, driven or shaped by the events happening on the International stage at any given time and the actors of this New World Order are the states actors, nationalities and even political blocs or countries.
Dr Bolarinwa further said that “major political entities and countries are seeking or competing to create new alignments in the world in which their interests and ideologies will be the defacto rule for the whole world.”
“A New World Order emerged from the end of the cold war to the disintegration of the former Soviet Union and even the current Russian war in Ukraine, the tension between China and the US over Taiwan, and even COVID-19, among other struggles, all this is about who will be the defacto leader of the world in all spheres of life,” Dr Bolarinwa stated
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He noted that African countries particularly Nigeria should position themselves to be the bride of the new dispensation with their huge natural resources and manpower amongst possessions, to take their positions inown on the world stage.
Dr Bolarinwa also noted the need for Africa particularly Nigeria to strategically prepare itself to have her interests adequately captured in the changing world geopolitically and economically.
He also spoke on the impact of the Russian war against Ukraine in the global communities alongside the emergence of realignments in the world, prompting the new world order.
Participants at the lecture included people from all walks of life such as ambassadors from different countries, a former foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Henry Ajumogobia former governor of Lagos state, Akinwumi Ambode as well as the Indian Consul to Nigeria, students from Babcock University, University of Lagos, and Covenant University.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
