# Dangerous Opportunity? Vigilantes, Community Self- Protection, and Sustainable Peace in Africa’s Lake Chad Basin #### calendar\_today Date and Time **April 19, 2022** 10:00AM - 11:30AM EDT #### pin\_drop Location **Virtual Event** ![Lake Chad Basin Event](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/african-studies/files/lake_chad_basin_event_2.png?itok=b0gbqx37) The Harvard University Center for African Studies has followed with keen interest past and current events and ongoing conflicts that have brought enormous suffering, loss of lives and livelihoods, and insecurity amongst citizenry in the Lake Chad Basin. Whereas these developments have received minimal global attention and response, the Center believes forums such as this can provide a platform to reengage the world and to understand the historical and current complexities as well as the tools for negotiating peace in this region. ## Special Speakers: ![ahunna photo](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/african-studies/files/ahunna.jpg?itok=bk8JMyrC) - **Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa**, the Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP 's Regional Bureau for Africa, officially began her role as UNDP’s Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa on August 15th, 2018. In this role she leads UNDP’s work supporting 46 countries in Africa to achieve Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to taking up this post, Ms. Eziakon¬wa-Onochie was UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Humanitarian Coor¬dinator in Ethiopia (2015-2018), UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Uganda (2012-2015), and before that held the same position in Lesotho (2008-2012). She has also worked as Chief of the Africa Section for Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) where she managed over 15 country operations in Africa. Before joining the United Nations, Ms. Eziakonwa held a series of senior positions with civil society organisations in Africa. She holds a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, with a focus on Economic and Political Development, as well as a Bachelor’s of Education degree, English and Literary studies from the University of Benin, Nigeria. ![Ambassador Mamman NUHU Photo](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/african-studies/files/executive_secretary_portrait.png?itok=3RiePWY6) - **Ambassador Mamman NUHU**, is the Executive Secretary of Lake Chad Basin Commission and Head of Mission of the Multinational Joint Task Force. He is a Nigerian Diplomat with upward of thirty-nine years’ experience. He joined the Nigerian Foreign Service in 1982 and has held various positions in Nigerian Diplomatic and Consular Missions around the world, including as Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of Zimbabwe. Ambassador NUHU was appointed the Executive Secretary and Head of Mission of LCBC/MNJTF on 28th February, 2018. Prior to his appointment, he was the Senior Political Adviser (SPA) to the ES/HoM of the LCBC/MNJTF from July 2016 -February 2018. ## Panelists: ![Dr. Fatima Akilu Photo](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/african-studies/files/dr-fatima-akilu.jpg?itok=Ito4UuWY) - **Dr. Fatima Akilu** is the Executive Director of Neem Foundation. She also heads the Psychosocial Services Component of the foundation. She is a trained psychologist with over 20 years experience in the field of mental health and psychology. She has taught and authored research papers relating to homelessness, ethnicity and its relationship with mental health. Dr. Akilu holds a Masters Degree and PhD in Psychology from the University of Reading (UK), and has worked as an Adjunct Professor of General Psychology at Broome Community College (USA) for over 12 years. ![Photo - Teniola Tayo](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/african-studies/files/photo_-_teniola_tayo_01.png?itok=KQLQ59Xp) - **Teniola Tayo** is a Consultant Researcher with the Lake Chad Basin Programme at the Institute for Security Studies where she works on human security issues related to the Boko Haram crisis. Her research interests border around the security, trade and development nexus. She has previously worked as a consultant with the West African think tank (WATHI), Nextier Advisory and the Inter-American Development Bank. She has also worked as a senior legislative aide with the Nigerian Senate. She has a Masters degree in Development Management from the London School of Economics (LSE), is a Chevening Scholar, and a Fellow with the LSE Programme for African Leadership. ## Moderator: ![Dan Agbigoa Photo](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/african-studies/files/dan_agbiboa.jpg?itok=rIA7CGqE) **Daniel E. Agbibo**a is Assistant Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University. Before joining the Harvard faculty, he was Assistant Professor of Conflict Analysis and Resolution (2017-2019) at George Mason University’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and a Postdoctoral Fellow (2016-2017) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perry World House, under the research theme “Global Shifts: Urbanization, Migration, and Climate Change.” Professor Agbiboa earned a PhD in International Development from the University of Oxford (St. Anthony’s College) as a Queen Elizabeth House Scholar, and an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge (Magdalene College) as a Cecil Renaud Scholar. Professor Agbiboa’s research and teaching focus on how state and nonstate forms of order and authority interpenetrate and shape each other, and the spatialization and materialization of mobility, power, and politics in contemporary African cities. \- This timely event will explore the strategies deployed by civilian communities to protect themselves in the face of widespread insecurity and uncertainty. Specifically, we will interrogate the role and impact of community-based vigilante groups helping to fight terror and keep the peace alongside national and multinational joint task forces. The event seeks to shed light on how and why these anti- Boko Haram vigilante groups emerged; the nature of their interactions with the government, security forces, and civilian communities; their impact on the prospects for peace and security in the Lake Chad region; and how best to effectively manage risks that vigilante groups pose to state legitimacy, communal order, and regional stability. **ORGANIZER:** Harvard Center for African Studies **REGISTER HERE:** [https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN\_t7PzJxl6SXacM1L-xQ2iYg](https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_t7PzJxl6SXacM1L-xQ2iYg) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#) Save: [ Add to calendar calendar\_today ](https://africa.harvard.edu/node/1635359/event-feed.ics) Copy link link