The ancient Kanem-Borno kingdom has announced plans to host its second cultural summit aimed at tackling violent extremism and other challenges undermining peace, stability and socio-economic development in the Lake Chad region.
At least 1,000 representatives from the ethnic communities and diaspora that once formed the Kanem-Borno kingdom in Nigeria are expected to converge on Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.
The Lake Chad region has been grappling with terrorism, climate change, multidimensional poverty and social unrest in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and the wider Sahel for more than a decade.
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Speaking to journalists in Maiduguri on Wednesday, chairperson of the summit, Zanna Hassan Boguma, said the gathering would be held under the auspices of the biennial Kanem-Borno Second Annual General Conference and Cultural Summit.
He reminded that the first edition of the summit was to be held in Maiduguri in January 2024.
The 2026 summit, themed “Echoes of Resilience: Using Culture for Peace and Regional Stability”, is expected to attract participants from the four Lake Chad Basin countries—Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon—as well as other countries around the world.
According to Boguma, scholars from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and other Sahelian countries will present papers on preserving Kanuri culture, improving regional security, strengthening the economy of Lake Chad and revitalizing the lake.
“This summit will serve as a global homecoming, bringing together the sons and daughters of Kanem-Borno from Nigeria and around the world, including members of the diaspora, scholars, professionals, traditional rulers, cultural custodians, youth and women,” he said.
He described the initiative as a deliberate effort to reconnect people with their shared heritage by mobilizing collective knowledge, resources and networks to promote peace and stability in the region.
The Lake Chad Basin remains a vital economic lifeline for West Africa and the Sahel, Boguma said, adding that participants were expected from Ghana, Togo, Niger, Sudan, Ethiopia and Central African countries.
“We are expecting over 1,000 participants from across the world, including academicians, traditional institutions, cultural experts, government officials, political leaders and cultural ambassadors,” he said.
He said the second biennial summit will build on the success of the first edition by deepening the dialogue around identity, resilience and collective responsibility.
“At a time when the Lake Chad Basin is facing security, humanitarian and socio-economic challenges, the summit presents culture as a unifying force and a strategic tool for peacebuilding, reconciliation and regional integration,” Boguma said.
He stressed that the summit is inclusive, non-partisan and forward-looking, noting that it is designed to complement ongoing security and development efforts through a people-driven platform that strengthens social cohesion and promotes long-term peace in the region.
