The Youth Federation for World Peace has ended a one day workshop on peace, conflict resolution and character education at the Aldgate Congress Hotel, Sani Abacha Road, Port Harcourt.
The National President of the Youth Federation for World Peace, Amb. Darlington Eras Eguaoye, explained the need for the co-existence of the country.
The president in his lecture outlined the factors causing unhappiness in the country. One of the factors he pointed out is that people did not know their historical reality of time and age, and because we have entered new age, people are still leaving in the old times.
He said the solution to the problem of Nigerians is to have a new worldview and a new perspective to the current challenges by having a new way of thinking, saying the problem we have is human problem, individual, ethnic, habit and attitude among others.
In an interview shortly after the programme with journalists, Amb. Darlington said the essence of the programme is to empower the youths on character building, contribution to peace at all levels in the society and specifically educating the new Ambassadors of Peace in the country.
Amb. Darlington said the body which is a non-governmental organization has helped the federal government in the quest to attain peace in the country.
He told journalists that the group has brought 700 international delegates to Nigeria to affirm that Nigeria is not at war, saying their programmes always bring youths and leaders together to find peace wherever they are.
Also speaking, the special adviser to the governor on NDDC matters, Mr Godknows Tam George, described the event and the honour as unique and wonderful.
He said the first thing needed in the country is peace while promising that he will intimate the governor about the organization because, according to him, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi loves peace, hence he did everything possible to return peace to Rivers state as governor.
Mr. Tam George said the idea behind the workshop and the award of Ambassador of Peace will help him and others to bring peace at all times.
Earlier, Amb. Green Isaac, the south-south coordinator of the group said through the character education training programme, more youths and leaders are in the best position to entrench peace in their domain. He said about 200 peace educators have been trained in Rivers State alone.
The guest speaker at the award night and one of those who presented papers at the event, Mr. Arochukwu Ogbonna Paul, in his paper titled “Towards Entrenching A Culture of Peaceful Conflict Resolution in Nigeria,” narrated how the ruling class has most times failed to resolve conflict at the early stage. He suggested tolerance and accommodation as part of ingredients for peaceful co-existence and understanding.
Delivering a paper on “Ethno Religion Conflict,” Amb. Ahmad Abdulranman, the vice president North West Zone for Youth Federation of World Peace, attributed some of the conflicts in Nigeria to political and economic roots.
On the Christian/Muslim conflict, he pointed out that the early Christians have also protected Muslim from their enemies as a sign of love and oneness.
Amb. Ahmad said to overcome some of the conflicts, we must co-operatively work hard to stop or eliminate illiteracy, poverty, crime and criminality. He opined that dialogue between the Muslims and the Christians and promotion of peace will be the way out.
Highlight of the event include lectures, award of Ambassadors to new members and dinner.
One of the awardees, Prof. Alex Monsi of the University of Science and Technology, responded on behalf of others, describing the NGO as one that is correcting the ills in the society, especially on peace building and peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians and to stabilize peace in Rivers State. ###
Pius Dukor
