A prominent Nigerian advocacy group has applauded the appointment of legal expert Sunusi Musa as head of a key peacebuilding institution, citing his track record in law and governance. The Kano State chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a faith-based civil society organization, extended congratulations to Musa following his selection as Chairman of Nigeria’s Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), a government-affiliated policy think-tank.
In a Saturday statement, MURIC’s Kano chairman, Hassan Sani-Indabawa, described the appointment as timely, praising Musa’s reputation for professionalism and intellectual rigor. “This decision places a square peg in a square hole,” Sani-Indabawa said, noting Musa’s historical achievements, including becoming the youngest Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) — the country’s highest legal rank — in a cohort of 62 lawyers elevated in September 2022.
The group highlighted Musa’s dual expertise as a lawyer and politician, emphasizing his role as an emerging leader from northern Nigeria’s Kano State. His new position at IPCR places him at the helm of critical efforts to address instability in West Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, which faces escalating security crises, governance challenges, and ethnic tensions.
Sani-Indabawa urged Musa to leverage the agency’s mandate to advance conflict resolution frameworks and promote good governance across Nigeria and beyond. “We encourage him to reinvigorate the institute’s work, fostering lasting peace not just domestically but regionally,” the statement read, underscoring the interconnected nature of security threats in West Africa.
Musa’s prior recognition as the youngest SAN at 41 made him a standout figure in Nigeria’s legal community, with peers citing his courtroom eloquence and strategic acumen. Analysts view his IPCR role as pivotal, given Nigeria’s influence in regional bodies like ECOWAS and its ongoing struggles with internal conflicts, including farmer-herder violence and insurgencies.
The IPCR, established in 2000, advises Nigeria’s government on mediation, policy research, and peace education. Musa’s appointment coincides with heightened international attention on the Sahel, where military coups, extremist activity, and humanitarian crises have destabilized neighboring nations like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
MURIC’s statement concluded with prayers for Musa’s success and sustained progress for the organization under its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola. The message reflects broader optimism among Nigerian civil society groups about Musa’s potential to strengthen Africa’s peace architecture during a period of complex geopolitical shifts.
