Peter Obi, Osinbajo Among World Leaders Invited to Attend Forum on Sidelines of DNC

Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State, and Nigeria’s former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, are among a select group of world leaders invited to participate in the 2024 International Leaders Forum (ILF), an event held on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois.

The forum, organized by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), kicked off on August 19 and is expected to end on August 22, 2024.

The ILF is known for gathering distinguished political leaders from across the globe, offering a platform to observe and engage with the United States’ democratic process.

This year’s forum has attracted over 200 eminent personalities, including former heads of government and senior politicians from more than 91 countries.

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In a statement, Peter Obi expressed his gratitude for the invitation, extended by Senator Thomas Daschle and the NDI Board.

“I am honored and grateful to Senator Thomas Daschle and the Board of NDI for the gracious invitation,” he said.

He acknowledged the ILF as an important opportunity for leaders from diverse backgrounds to build relationships based on shared experiences and to address pressing challenges to democratic institutions, values, and norms.

The forum, as noted by NDI President Tamara Wittes, emphasizes the importance of trust in a healthy democracy.

“Democracy is about communities making collective decisions even when people may have real differences of view – and so healthy democracy relies on fostering open dialogue and trust,” Wittes stated.

The event will feature presentations and discussions led by prominent figures such as DNC Chair Jamie Harrison, former DNC Chair and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and the Prime Minister of Kosovo, among others.

Obi highlighted the significance of the forum for Africa’s emerging democracies, stating, “The ILF offers those of us from Africa’s nascent and evolving democracies the opportunity to share our experiences and learn from others.”