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The summit was organised by the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace in strategic partnership with the US Department of State and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
The opening session was led by Abdullah Bin Bayyah, Chairman of the UAE Council for Fatwa and President of the Forum. The United States was represented by Riley M. Barnes, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, while the United Kingdom was represented by Baroness Chapman, Minister of State for International Development and Africa.
The summit brought together prominent figures, including John Onaiyekan, Justin Welby, Samaila Muhammad Mera, Russell Rook, Patricia Scotland, and Sharif Ibrahim Saleh Al-Hussaini, who addressed the event via video link.
The Nigerian delegation included Muslim and Christian religious leaders, government officials, academics, and civil society representatives.
Bin Bayyah highlighted that the summit reflects the UAE’s growing role in supporting peace initiatives and its strong ties with Africa, particularly Nigeria. He described the effort as an example of value-based diplomacy combined with international cooperation to enhance stability.
In his keynote remarks, Bin Bayyah announced the launch of a trilateral framework involving the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. The initiative aims to achieve sustainable peace through institutional cooperation, respect for national sovereignty, and aligning diplomatic efforts with ethical principles.
He provided an in-depth analysis of Nigeria’s complex crisis, pointing to factors such as resource competition, climate change, organised crime, and extremism. He proposed a five-point roadmap focused on improving public discourse, building trust, supporting local initiatives, addressing violence through security and justice measures, and integrating national and international efforts.
Riley Barnes commended the Forum’s role in fostering dialogue, describing the partnership as a model that blends religious insight with diplomatic effectiveness. Baroness Chapman affirmed the UK’s support, noting that the initiative fills a critical gap in peacebuilding and emphasising Nigeria’s importance to West African stability.
Justin Welby stressed that peace is a moral responsibility that requires courage and mutual recognition, drawing on his recent engagement with political and religious leaders in Nigeria.
The London summit marks the second phase of a broader consultative process, following earlier discussions in Washington last February. Upcoming sessions are planned in Abu Dhabi, Rabat, and Abuja, in coordination with the Nigerian government, to develop a comprehensive international framework for peace in Nigeria and across Africa.
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