AFRPN Holds Annual Conference on February 5 in Abuja
By Raphael Ekpang
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Association of Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria (AFRPN) has announced that its 8th Annual Conference will be held on Thursday, 5 February 2026, at the Rotunda, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tafawa Balewa House, Abuja.
The announcement was made during a Press Briefing and Stakeholder Engagement organised by the Association on Friday at the AFRPN Secretariat in Abuja, as part of activities leading to the conference.
The engagement was aimed at briefing members of the media and key stakeholders on the objectives, theme, and strategic significance of the annual conference. It attracted senior serving and retired diplomats, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives of television, print, electronic, and online media organisations.
Addressing journalists, the Chairman and President of AFRPN, Ambassador Dr. Gani Lawal, reiterated the Association’s mandate as a professional body dedicated to promoting informed discourse on Nigeria’s foreign policy and Africa’s international relations.
He stated that AFRPN continues to make meaningful contributions through policy dialogue, intellectual engagement, mentorship, and research-based interventions, leveraging the collective experience of its members in shaping strategic foreign policy thinking.
Ambassador Lawal disclosed that the 2026 Annual Conference will be held under the theme: “The Challenge of Democratic Governance in Africa: Mega Trends and Leveraging Opportunities for Consolidation.”
According to him, the theme is particularly relevant in light of democratic setbacks, governance challenges, and security pressures confronting several African countries, especially within the Sahel region. He noted that the conference is designed to provide a platform for experienced practitioners, scholars, and policymakers to critically examine these trends and propose sustainable pathways for democratic consolidation across Africa.
The Association further announced that Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, will deliver the Guest Lecture, while Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Patron of AFRPN, will serve as Chairman of the Occasion.
The conference is expected to host a wide range of high-level dignitaries, including the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Special Guest of Honour, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs as hosts, alongside former ministers, ambassadors, senior government officials, heads of strategic institutions, and serving and retired members of the Association.
AFRPN reaffirmed that effective foreign policy remains closely linked to sound democratic governance, economic stability, and informed strategic engagement. The Association reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to democratic principles in Africa, its opposition to unconstitutional changes of government, promotion of regional integration, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and cooperation.
