By Don Peter Okoro.
Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria was again thrown into festivity on Thursday the 27th of March 2025 when the United Nations Peace and Positive Living Awareness Centre organized the Annual Peace Advocates Conference and Investiture Ceremony for New Members.
The Theme for this year is: CULTURE OF PEACE: THE BEDROCK For SOCIAL INTEGRATION And SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. In his welcome address, the Convener and International Coordinator, Amb.Dr. Festus Ozioma Ozoemena pointed out that the United Nations stands for sustainable peace and development and that without peace there can never be progress, stressing that the essence of the Peace Conference is to find enduring peace. Speaking further, he said:
“This Conference is in commemoration of the International Day of Peace celebrated every 21st of September and since we cannot fix all our programs into one day, we have to space it and insert the celebration on a day like this.
This is what we are here to do in Abuja the Federal Capital City of Nigeria. After which we continue across the states of the country. Then on the 20th of September we will have the Grand Finale Celebration at Awka the capital city of Anambra State, along with our Annual Peace Advocates Convention.”
The International Coordinator revealed that they are not just here in Nigeria, but have their Charters in some other African countries, saying that last year, they inaugurated their Peace Mission in Liberia, recalling how Nigeria contributed immensely to restoring peace in that country. He also stated that by July this year, they will be in Ghana and that the Peace Mission is ongoing in Sierra Leone, while working out to get into South Africa and some other African countries.
He equally pointed out that they have gained entrance into Europe: that is The U.K and The Netherlands, Amsterdam to be precise, and of course The United States of America where there is a Charter with members. He said they are doing this strategically. In his words:
“We are doing this strategically because our world needs peace and there is nothing we do for peace that is enough. So we keep pushing and doing what we are persuaded to do. There’s no way we can carry out this vision without mobilizing men and women to be part and parcel of this initiative. That is why we mobilize men and women as United Nations Volunteer Peace Advocates in their categories. We have the Ambassadors For World Peace, Justices For World Peace, Ambassadors For Community Peace, Youth Peace Ambassadors, World Professional Peace Advocates, Mayors For World Peace, World Ambassadors For Goodwill and so on. We mobilize men and women into these Advocates and by so doing we are able to duplicate and dedicate ourselves for maximum impact.
Where I am, I should be able to do my own part and where you are, you do your own part and by so doing, we would be in a good position to collectively impact our world for peace.”‘ Dr. Ozoemena went on to explain that:
“Apart from mobilizing men and women, we are into some other things like we have been able to push a Bill on Peace Building and Conflict Management in Anambra State. We started with the 7th Session of the House of Assembly and the Bill got to 2nd Reading and could not go further before the expiration of that Session. And with the coming up of the 8th Session of the House of Assembly, we moved in again and the Bill went through 1st, 2nd and 3rd Readings and was eventually passed by the House of Assembly and to the Glory of God, on the 12th of June 2024, the Governor of Anambra State,Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo who happens to be our Peace Ambassador since 2019, assented to the Bill. Among the 11Bills signed into Law, The Peace Building and Conflict Management is the number 5. It is an achievement and a plus and we hope that in due time, it will be established as an Agency.”” According to him they are trying to get it replicated across the South East States and then the National Assembly.
He stated further, “Considering what is going on in Nigeria, a Bill on Peace Building and Conflict Management is very important. We already have some of our members in the Red Chamber and the Green Chamber. We will see what we can do to push this so that it becomes a subject for National Discourse, so that we will be able to address the Multi-facet conflicts, crisis, violence that we have in this country. What we need in Nigeria is peace. We have the human and natural resources that God has endowed us with as a great nation, but what God has given to us has become a problem and a curse. Instead of enjoying it, we are killing each other. The rate of killing in this country is alarming and unbecoming and it has not given us a good image outside this country. We travel and when people see you, they are surprised that people are still surviving in Nigeria, because all they see and hear are killings, kidnappings, banditry and others. That is why what we are doing should be supported by all.
Without peace, no matter what you have achieved in life, it can come down in one day.
” The International Coordinator posited that:”
We are doing all these to encourage a culture of peace in our nation. We need Peace Education In our country and that is why we are building the Peace and Leadership Centre in Awka. Last year, we did the groundbreaking ceremony and work is ongoing. When it is completed, it would be dedicated as UNESCO Site For Peace Education And Tourism. And people would come from all over the world to make research on how to make for peace and provide an avenue for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Outdoor Courts, because our Courts are filled with cases of over 10 to 20 years and more. Some even continue with litigation till they die. Court can give you judgement, but cannot give you peace. But when you get people together in a Roundtable discussion, we would be able to resolve our differences and at the end of the day, it will be a Win–Win situation and everyone will go home happy. So let us make our contributions and support this project. Talking about the importance of peace, we cannot stop talking about it, All hands must be on deck. I call on the Executive Arms of Government, the Legislative Arms and the Judiciary to give peace a chance. The polity is presently overheated and it is not good for us as a nation. The world is watching us. I appeal to every Nigerian that whatever we can do to make room for peace and to live in peace should be done. We are not only doing it for the society, but for ourselves and the God of Peace will be happy with everyone of us. Our doors are open because we know that in the culture of bringing peace across to all, it should not and cannot be done by one man. Thank you.”‘