Uzodimma Seeks Stronger, Sustainable Local Security Outfits In Africa

Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has advocated for a strong and practical security system in communities across African states to develop a more effective and sustainable national and continental security architecture.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru, made the call in his keynote address at the international conference on “Military Professionalism in Africa” held at Imo State University, Owerri.

Uzodimma, who was honoured with an award of Excellence by the Centre for African American Research Studies (CAARS) at the event, expressed appreciation to the Faculty of Social Sciences, IMSU and CAARS for their collaboration and for the choice of theme, “Military Professionalism, Peace and Security in Africa: Repositioning Security Institutions for Democratic Stability and Global Responsibility,” which he described as weighty.

He also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the states, especially Imo, by providing the necessary logistics and support to fortify the state’s security architecture.

Speaking on the strategic role of government in the continent’s security architecture, Governor Uzodimma argued that building security from the Centre does not guarantee effectiveness.

He therefore prescribed building Africa’s security from the community to the Centre, anchored on professionalism, responsibility, and cooperativeness.

“For 60 years, Africa has built its security from the top. We built it from the capital, from the barracks, from the Centre. And from the Centre, you cannot see the street. You cannot see the village square. You cannot see the bush behind the community. “The layer we neglected is the layer closest to the people.   It is the subnational layer, the institution that sits between the soldier and the citizens.   That is the state government,” the Governor said.

The Governor outlined practical steps, borne of experience, to position the continent’s security for the onerous task at hand – steps he implemented in Imo State to stem the high spate of insecurity the state witnessed in the past. They include: enactment of enabling laws, provision of funding, building of the community layer, deployment of technology, and reinforcement of federal agencies.

Governor Uzodimma disclosed that he created a strong security architecture in the state through the involvement of traditional rulers, and by inaugurating 7,000 trained men and women drawn from different communities to collaborate with conventional security agents. “They are the eyes and ears of the security system at the level where the system was blind,” the Governor stated.

Connecting professionalism to democratic stability, Governor Uzodimma opined that the subnational layer keeps security close to the governed and therefore answerable to them.

He also restated the state’s commitment to honouring fallen heroes in the line of duty, disclosing that his administration disbursed 600 million naira in January 2026 during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration to support the families of fallen heroes and wounded service members. “We did it because professional security service must know, with certainty, that the state it bleeds for will not forget its dead,” the Governor stated.

Commenting on Africa’s security, Governor Uzodimma stated that Africa is impatient for a greater role in global security, and that this impatience is justified.

“We want our permanent place in the reformed United Nations Security Council. We want to secure the Gulf of Guinea. We want our African Standby Force ready, in fact, not on paper, and our African Peace and Security Architecture to mean what its name promises,” he said.

He noted Nigeria’s contributions to Africa’s security, disclosing that last year Nigeria hosted the maiden African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit to advance the continental ambition, and that Nigeria has earned a voice in the conversation on African peace and security.

“We kept the peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone when others looked away. “We have carried a heavy share against terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin.

Africa is not a stranger to global security responsibility.   We have paid for our seat at the table in the blood of soldiers”, Governor Uzodimma stated.

He, however, noted that Africa’s outward strength will only ever be as solid as its inward security. “A continent that cannot secure its own villages cannot credibly secure the world’s sea lanes.   The nation whose interior is hollow will project weakness abroad, however fine its delegation and however loud its communiqués.”

The Governor argued that inward stability is not built downwards from summits and strategy documents, but built upwards, from the community to the local government, to the state, to the nation, and only then to the continent and the world.

He submitted that the safest nation is one that secures the smallest community first, emphasising that building from the bottom up secures the top firmly.

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), represented by the GOC 82 Division, Enugu, Major General Oluremi Fadairo, stated that no nation can achieve development in a country characterised by insecurity.

He disclosed that both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies adopted by the Nigerian military have yielded tremendous success, confirming the military’s might and responsibility.

Gen. Musa also affirmed that the best military is one guided by discipline and respect for democratic principles and civilian leadership. He disclosed that Nigeria is making progress in building local technology and resilience, stressing that today, technology defines how countries defend themselves and maintain peace.

He submitted, however, that while military professionalism is necessary for national development, security remains everybody’s responsibility, and encouraged citizens to “say something when they see something.”

The Chairman of the Occasion and Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Uchechukwu Chukwumaeze, thanked Governor Hope Uzodimma, the military authorities, CAARS, and the IMSU Faculty of Social Sciences for bringing the African security discussion to the institution.

The Director General of CAARS, Prof. Nnamdi Nzenwodu, while expressing delight at hosting the function in his home state, announced the Centre’s plan to build a Centre of Excellence for Contemporary Strategic Studies at Imo State University, Owerri.

Earlier, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, IMSU, Prof. A.J.K. Nwosu, wm described the conference as vital and a clarion call for African progress and development. He insisted that African security must evolve to ensure peace.

The conference featured cultural displays, award presentations, and the unveiling of CAARS’s strategic plan for IMSU.

Other dignitaries at the event included the Commissioner for Tertiary and Technical Education, Prof. Victor Nwachukwu; the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. B.T.O. Ikegwuoha; the Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Brig. Gen. Ahmed (represented); heads of other security agencies; staff and students of IMSU; among others.