Pan-African Youth Conflict Mediation & Resolution
The African Youth Peace Summit is a signature continental assembly designed to position youth not as passive victims of armed conflicts and political instability, but as active mediators, policy negotiators, and ambassadors of peace across the African Union member states.
International Humanitarian Law, Environmental Protection, Climate Security, and Youth Governance in Africa
The 7th African Youth Peace Summit convened distinguished legal scholars, international prosecutors, human rights advocates, and youth leaders across Africa at the University of Lusaka. The summit addressed the critical intersection of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), environmental war crimes, climate security threat multipliers, breaking the weaponization of peace, space technology/GIS, and artificial intelligence (AI) in contemporary warfare and peacebuilding.
Keynote Address: "From Moot Court to Real Courts: Why Young Africans Must Break the Cycle of Impunity"
Keynote Speaker: Professor Azubike Onuora-Oguno — Professor and Head of Department of Jurisprudence & International Law, University of Ilorin (Nigeria); Vice President, African Network of Constitutional Law. Interrogating the weaponization of peace and demonstrating why peace without survivor-centered justice is an illusion.
Distinguished Panelists & Expert Presenters
Demilitarized sanctuaries for fragile water basins and ecosystems; environmental risk assessment in mine action; prosecuting environmental destruction under Rome Statute Article 8(2)(b)(iv).
Mitigating resource-based farmer-herder clashes across Southern and Central Africa; safeguarding youth from climate-induced displacement and armed group recruitment.
Amnesties that shield warlords fuel future wars. Sustainable peace demands survivor-centered reparations, ending impunity, and youth driving statutory judicial reforms.
Harnessing satellite GIS for resource conflict early-warning and Hala AI for civilian protection, while regulating automated targeting, deepfakes, e-waste, and cybersecurity.
"Peace without justice is a non-existent and meaningless concept. The weaponization of peace through amnesties for mass atrocities only guarantees the return of war."
Gender, Youth, Human Rights and Legal Accountability in African Conflict and Post-Conflict Zones
The 6th African Youth Peace Summit convened leading jurists, human rights litigators, scholars, and youth changemakers to dissect structural vulnerabilities, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), peacekeeping accountability, and child soldier protection across African conflict hotspots.
Summit Leadership & Moderation
Opening Remarks: Mr. Abdulkarim Azeez (Director, FIAE) • Session Moderator / MC: Mr. Swaleh Wengo (Vice President & Director of Operations, FIAE) • Online Session Co-Host: Ms. Alessia Tesoro (FIAE Peace & Conflict Unit).
Distinguished Speakers & Expert Panelists
Feminist legal rejection of inherent female vulnerability; framing bodily, voice, and economic autonomy while holding corporate recruitment agencies accountable (e.g. Nomalia Desire v. Foreign Services Uganda).
Shifting from short-term reactive aid to direct grassroots funding, uninterrupted trauma-informed education, and formal girl participation in peace negotiations.
Championing the African Charter's strict under-18 recruitment ban over international exemptions, and expanding conscription jurisprudence (Lubanga) to all support and combat roles.
Zero-tolerance for peacekeeper sexual exploitation (SEA), critiquing formalistic coercion thresholds in Al Hassan, and advancing transformative reparations.
"A country that does not allow its children, adolescents, and youth to participate in and build towards peace is a country that condemns itself to repeat a future in war."
Upholding Human Rights, Democracy and Peace Amid Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa
Held concurrently with the 3rd Edition of the FIAE International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition. The Chief Host was FIAE Director Mr. Abdulkareem Azeez, moderated by Ms. Alessia Tesoro (Intern, Peace & Conflict Unit), with Chief Guest Dr. Halima Tope Akaje (Lecturer, Kwara State University).
Distinguished Speakers & Panelists
- Dr. Manuel Brunner: Professor of Public International Law & IHL, University of the German Armed Forces Hamburg, Germany.
- Kawsar Laanani: Policy Officer, European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM).
- David Otto: International Terrorism Consultant & Counter-Terrorism Researcher (UK).
- Awet Halefom: African Fellow, Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation.
- Dr. A. J. Suleiman & Dr. Muhammad Tukur Jibril: Lecturers, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
- Obafemi Richard Jegede: Humanitarian Leader, Women Reform Organization.
Towards Sustainable Peace in Africa: Understanding & Addressing the Root Causes of Conflict
Organized alongside the 2nd Edition of the FIAE IHL Moot Court Competition. Chief Host Mr. Abdulkareem Azeez (FIAE Director) was joined by Special Guest Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba (Renowned Jurist & Pan-Africanist, Kenya), Chief Guest Mustapha Sundifu Katta (Social Development Expert, Sierra Leone), with moderation by Ms. Adeke Joy Mary (Peace & Conflict Unit Head) and Ms. Alessia Tesoro.
Keynote Speakers & Experts
- Prof. Abiodun Amuda-Kannike SAN: Dean of Faculty of Law, Kwara State University, Nigeria.
- Monica Chipanta Mwansa: Director of Taxation & Financial Crimes Department, National Prosecution Authority, Zambia.
- Abieyuwa Stephanie Usoh-Iriabe: Prosecutor & Legal Officer, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria.
- Samuel Ogwal: Legal Scholar & Associate, Uganda.
The Effectiveness of International Law in Maintaining Global Peace
Held in conjunction with the Inaugural 1st Edition of the FIS International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition. Chief Host Mr. Abdulkareem Azeez and Moderator Miss Adeke Joy Mary hosted Chief Guest Advocate Ramatoulie Isatou Jallow (Advocate of the High Court of Botswana).
Distinguished Speakers
- Mr. Sebastian Lafrance: Crown Counsel (Prosecutor), Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
- Dr. Tajudeen Sanni: Senior Lecturer, Kampala International University, Uganda.
The Role of Youth in Peace Making and Peace Keeping in Africa
Chief Host Mr. Abdulkareem Azeez, Moderator Miss Adeke Mary Joy, and Chief Guest Barrister Ameenah Ibrahim (Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria) convened youth leaders to interrogate conflict resolution frameworks.
Speakers & Youth Pioneers
- Mr. Mwila C. Bwanga: Youth Governance & Leadership Expert, Zambia.
- Miss Patricia Peace Ejang: Law Student & Youth Activist, Uganda.
- Mr. David Tobi Oyesowo: Lawyer & Youth Leadership Expert, Nigeria.
- Mr. Peter Maswi: Co-Founder, Generation Engage Network, East Africa.
- Mr. Mark Mwalimu Mwake: Founder, Bariki Foundation, Kenya.
Education as the Main Cause of Unemployment in Africa
The inaugural educational summit of Firdaous Initiative for Academic Excellence was held virtually. Chief Host Mr. Abdulkareem Azeez (President & Director of Studies) was joined by Moderators Mr. Swaleh Hemed Wengo (Vice President & Director of Operations and Logistics) and Miss Hamdi Abdikani Shire (Director of Finance & Mobilization).
Speakers & Academic Contributors
- Mrs. Yvonne Shasuvila: Career Development Coach & Co-Founder, StaffScout, Kenya.
- Dr. Tajudeen Sanni: Senior Lecturer, Kampala International University, Uganda.
- Mr. Soola Bolaji: Brand Management Professional, Nigeria.
- Dr. Leah Ndimurwimo: Senior Lecturer, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.
- Prof. (Dr.) Kasim Balarabe: Associate Professor & Associate Dean, O.P. Jindal Global University, India.
- Dr. Hanafi Hammed: Senior Lecturer, Al-Hikmah University, Nigeria.