Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Nigerian Senate President, has achieved a significant milestone by breaking a 59-year jinx after being elected to the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Akpabio’s election took place during the IPU’s 147th General Assembly in Luanda, Angola. Delegates from around the world elected him to serve as an executive committee member of this global parliamentary union for a three-year term.
This accomplishment is particularly notable because the last time a Nigerian was elected to the executive committee of the parliamentary union was in 1964.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is a global organization of national parliaments founded in 1889, and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It is dedicated to promoting peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue. With 179 member countries out of 193 worldwide, the IPU plays a crucial role in facilitating parliamentary diplomacy, empowering parliaments and parliamentarians, and promoting peace, democracy, and sustainable development on a global scale.
The 147th IPU Assembly, hosted by the National Assembly of Angola, convened in Luanda from October 21st to 27th, 2023. During this week-long assembly, important issues affecting nations worldwide were deliberated upon, with a focus on strengthening trust between people and governance structures. The discussions aimed to enhance the effectiveness, accountability, and representativeness of public institutions, enabling parliaments to address various geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges confronting the world.