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Geneva, Switzerland – In a rousing and visionary address that electrified the halls of the Palais des Nations, Nigeria’s Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, positioned Nigeria at the forefront of global legislative leadership during the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments, held from July 29 to 31 in Geneva.
Under the theme “A World in Turmoil: Multilateralism for Peace, Justice and Prosperity for All”, the conference, jointly convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations, brought together parliamentary leaders from across the globe. Yet it was Akpabio’s speech, “Courage to Legislate, Will to Lead”, that cut through the diplomatic rhetoric with clarity and conviction.
Standing before the world’s legislative elite, Akpabio transformed Nigeria’s turbulent journey into a rallying point for global action. “I come from a nation that has endured fire and risen from ashes,” he declared, as he invoked the resilience of Nigerians facing terrorism, economic hardship, and insecurity.
Framing adversity as an opportunity, he urged parliamentarians to reject paralysis and instead embrace bold, future-shaping leadership.Citing landmark legislation, Akpabio outlined Nigeria’s strategy to combat insecurity through both military and social instruments.
He highlighted the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act, the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, and social interventions such as the Out-of-School Children Education Act, emphasizing the interconnectedness of security, education, and development.“Our youth are not a liability but a lifeline,” Akpabio said, drawing applause for Nigeria’s Start-Up Act and National Digital Strategy, which he described as tools for unlocking the potential of a digitally-driven generation.
He underscored the importance of political inclusivity, citing the Not Too Young To Run Act and proposed gender quotas as transformative tools to democratize access to power. “Inclusion, not exclusion, must be our standard,” he stated, echoing the just-concluded 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament.
Akpabio’s second appeal was to the conscience of the global parliamentary community. With a clear critique of inaction, he challenged parliaments to become “peace architects” that do more than pass symbolic resolutions.“Multilateralism must not become a rhetoric. It must rise as a movement of resolve,” he charged, outlining a three-part legislative blueprint:
1. Local Solutions, Global Impact – urging grassroots engagement in conflict resolution, as seen in Nigeria’s regional security summits.
2. Binding Developmental Legislation – treating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as actionable contracts, not aspirational slogans.
3. The Tapestry Principle a call for solidarity in addressing global crises, from climate change to arms trafficking.His voice carried not just national pride but also continental weight, urging Global South nations to demand justice in global systems that perpetuate inequality through skewed trade and arms policies.
Senator Akpabio’s speech was more than performative, it marked Nigeria’s reassertion on the world stage. Since rejoining the IPU Executive Committee in 2023 after a six-decade absence, Nigeria has steadily expanded its parliamentary footprint.
Akpabio, now a member of the IPU’s influential Preparatory Committee, used the Geneva platform to assert that Nigeria is ready to help redefine global governance.Observers say his address has bolstered his reputation as a diplomatic statesman. “Akpabio did not just speak for Nigeria.
He spoke for every nation struggling to turn chaos into progress,” noted one African delegate.Akpabio’s speech has already begun to reverberate across capitals in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, regions that share Nigeria’s developmental struggles and aspirations. With powerful metaphors of “legislating in the storm” and “reforming in the furnace,” the Senate President linked global crises with local solutions and affirmed that Nigeria would lead with both grit and grace.
As the conference concluded, one message was unmistakably clear: the world’s parliaments must rise not as ceremonial institutions but as engines of justice, peace, and shared progress. And Nigeria, through the voice of Akpabio, has declared itself ready to lead that charge. “We legislate in the storm, reform in the furnace, and lead with courage.” Senator Godswill Akpabio, Geneva 2025
