By Victoria Ojeme

Nigeria has a long and storied history in international peacekeeping operations, dating back to 1960 when it first contributed troops to the UN Operation in the Congo. Since then, Nigeria has participated in over 40 UN peacekeeping missions, making it one of the largest contributors of peacekeeping personnel in Africa.

This commitment has been a cornerstone of Nigeria’s foreign policy, reflecting its aspiration to be a leading force for stability in the region and beyond.

As a result, the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAIPKC) recently launched its Comprehensive Protection of Civilians Course 36/2024 to enhance Nigeria’s role in international peacekeeping and regional security. This initiative, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Japan, is part of Nigeria’s commitment to upholding global peacekeeping standards and protecting vulnerable populations in conflict zones.

The inauguration ceremony, held in Abuja, brought together key stakeholders from the military, paramilitary agencies, various government departments, and non-governmental organizations from six West African countries.

The establishment of the MLAIPKC in 2004 (renamed in honour of Lt. Gen. Martin Luther Agwai in 2017) was a significant step in institutionalizing Nigeria’s peacekeeping expertise. The centre has since become a hub for peacekeeping training not just for Nigerian forces, but for personnel from across Africa and beyond.

Speaking at the project launch, the Team Lead of the Governance, Peace, and Security Unit at UNDP Nigeria, Matthew Alao, reiterated the critical nature of civilian protection in modern conflicts saying “Civilians often bear the brunt of hostilities and uncertainties in conflict zones around the world.”

The emphasis on civilian protection comes at a time when civilian casualties in international peace missions have raised increasing concern. According to UN reports, civilians continue to account for the vast majority of casualties in armed conflicts worldwide. In 2022 alone, the UN documented over 16,000 civilian deaths in just 12 conflict situations. The complexity of modern conflicts, often involving non-state actors and occurring in densely populated urban areas, has made the task of protecting civilians increasingly challenging.

The course’s curriculum, designed to equip participants with advanced strategies for protecting civilians in armed conflicts, aligns with UN training standards. This alignment ensures that Nigerian peacekeepers and their regional counterparts will be prepared to serve effectively in UN, African Union, and ECOWAS missions.

Maj.-Gen. Ademola Adedoja, Commandant of MLAIPKC, outlined the center’s commitment to enhancing peacekeeping operations both within Nigeria and across the African continent. This focus on both domestic and international applications of peacekeeping skills reflects Nigeria’s dual challenges: managing internal security issues while maintaining its status as a significant contributor to global peacekeeping efforts.

The course covers a wide range of topics, including international humanitarian law, conflict analysis, negotiation and mediation skills, and strategies for protecting vulnerable groups such as women and children in conflict zones. Participants will also receive training on the use of technology in peacekeeping operations, including the deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance and early warning systems.

The involvement of the UNDP and the Japanese government in funding this initiative is perhaps evidence of the international community’s recognition of Nigeria’s strategic importance in regional stability. This partnership, which began in 2016, has already yielded positive results, including the implementation of various specialized courses such as anti-piracy and countering violent extremism.

Japan’s support for the program is part of its broader commitment to peace and security in Africa. In 2019, at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7), Japan pledged to train over 3,000 peacekeeping personnel across the continent. This support aligns with Japan’s strategy of contributing to global peace through capacity building and non-military assistance.

According to Maj.-Gen. Ademola Adedoja, the course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for the performance of Comprehensive Protection of Civilian functions in an integrated peace operations environment.

”This course will also provide participants with the expertise and strategies necessary to protect civilians in conflict zones.

”It will also serve as measures to win the hearts and minds of the local indigenous people in conflict and post-conflict environments among others.

”The MLAILPKC in conjunction with other collaborations are showcasing the profound truth that the protection and promotion of human rights is a collective endeavour that transcends government and institutional responsibilities.”

From a national policy perspective, this comprehensive approach to peacekeeping training serves multiple strategic objectives. Firstly, it enhances Nigeria’s soft power and diplomatic influence by positioning the country as a key player in regional security matters. This is particularly important as Nigeria seeks to maintain its leadership role in West Africa and strengthen its case for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Secondly, the skills acquired by participants have direct applications in addressing Nigeria’s internal security challenges, particularly in conflict-prone areas. Nigeria continues to grapple with various security threats, including the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast, banditry in the Northwest, and sporadic conflicts between herders and farmers in the Middle Belt region. The principles of civilian protection and conflict de-escalation taught in the course can be invaluable in these contexts.

Moreover, the emphasis on protecting civilians aligns with Nigeria’s broader policy goals of promoting human rights and good governance. By training peacekeepers to safeguard civilian populations effectively, Nigeria is contributing to a more stable and secure region, which in turn can foster economic development and reduce the risk of conflict spillover.

The Chief of Training (Army), Maj.-Gen. Sani Mohammed, in his remarks, said that the mandate of MLAILPKC was to deliver realistic training support to leaders and critical stakeholders on multidimensional challenges of contemporary peace support operations.

Mohammed, represented by Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Abai said the collaboration was aimed at fostering stability, security, and sustainable developments in conflict-affected regions.

According to him, the course’s focus on building sustainable networks among participants also has long-term implications for regional cooperation.

As these trained professionals advance in their careers, the connections formed during the course could facilitate better cross-border collaboration on security issues. This is particularly crucial in the West African context, where conflicts often have transnational dimensions.

”In the year 2023, a total of four courses were conducted in collaboration with UNDP and the Government of Japan. These include the Anti-Piracy Course series, Comprehensive Protection of Civilians Course, and Countering Violence Extremism Course, he explained.

While the launch of this comprehensive training programme is a significant step forward, challenges remain. Funding for peacekeeping operations globally has been under pressure, with the UN facing budget constraints. Nigeria, like many troop-contributing countries, has called for more equitable burden-sharing in financing peacekeeping missions.

Additionally, the evolving nature of conflicts, including the rise of warfare and the increasing use of digital technologies by armed groups, necessitates continuous updating of training curricula. The MLAIPKC will need to stay at the forefront of these developments to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of its training programs.

However, the success of this initiative could pave the way for Nigeria to expand its role as a regional training hub for peacekeeping operations. There are discussions about potentially establishing satellite training centres in other parts of the country to increase the capacity and reach of the programme.