International Peace Day: Rotary Club, Peace Corps task Nigerians on peaceful coexistence
By Ruth Oketunde
Rotary International District 9125 and Peace Corps of Nigeria have stressed the need for peaceful co-existence among people of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds in the country.
They said this at a peace awareness walk, organised to commemorate the 2023 International Day of Peace on Thursday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the peace day, celebrated annually on Sept. 21, is aimed at reducing violence and strengthening the ideals of peace around the world.
NAN also reports that this year’s theme is: “Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the Global Goals.”
National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dr Dickson Akoh, called on Nigerians to live in peace with one another and shun social vices that might make the country ungovernable.
“In Nigeria today, we have a couple of challenges, leading to needless loss of lives and property, but the fact that we still remain united as a nation deserves celebration.
“We want to use this day to call on some of the youth who have taken up arms against one other or the state to stop it in the interest of development.
“If you look at the content of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, to which Nigeria is a signatory, we deserve peace, as it is the bottom line and the ultimate goal,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Sani Ahmed, District Governor, Rotary International District 9125, urged Nigerians to make themselves advocates of peace, as it would benefit the country in numerous ways.
“This is a very important day to us as Rotarians because one of the major issues we are advocating for is for us to have peace globally and that is one of the seven focus areas of Rotary.
“In everything we do in Rotary, we are trying to give people hope so that they can be at peace with themselves and everyone in the world.
“We believe that with hope, peace will prevail,” Ahmed said.
Also speaking, Princess Okoro, District Governor Nominee, District 9125, said that the campaign was aimed at creating awareness on the need to promote peace in the country.
According to her, without peace, there will be no harmony and it will be difficult to achieve meaningful development in the country.
“As we are doing this today, it is being commemorated in every part of the federation.
“All we are talking about is peace; we want everybody to appreciate peace, preach peace, sing peace and love peace,” she said.
Mr Roy Nwafor, District Chair, Peace and Conflict Resolution, District 9125, added that Rotary International was committed to promoting peace and unity among Nigerians.
“We want to promote peace in Nigeria while activating the pillars of peace, starting from a well-functioning government, a sound business environment and equitable distribution of resources.
“We also want to promote the acceptance of the rights of others, free flow of information, good relationship with our neighbours, high level of human capital and low level of corruption.
“These actions are our focus at Rotary International for peace and conflict resolution,” Nwafor said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Modupe Adeloye and ‘Wale Sadeeq
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