By Sylvanus Viashima,
JALINGO – As the world marks global day of peace with the theme “cultivating a culture of peace” the executive director of Dephee Peace and Community Development Initiative (DPCDI) Ambassador Bulus Audu has called for more emphasis on dialogue and social justice as panacea to achieving global peace and stability.
Audu disclosed this in Jalingo at a session to mark the World Peace Day celebration organised by the DPCDI in collaboration with E-Faith Humanitarian Foundation (EFHF).
Bulus notes that achieving global peace starts from ensuring individual peace and promoting community peace through dialogue, justice, education and deliberate awareness.
“Today we gather to commemorate the 2024 World Peace Day, a momentous occasion that reminds us of our collective aspiration for a harmonious and peaceful world. As we stand together, we acknowledge the progress made towards peace, yet we also recognize the persistent challenges that threaten our global community. Conflicts, inequality, and injustice continue to affect countless lives.
“However, we refuse to be deterred. We choose to unite, to empower, and to inspire one another. We recognize that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a dynamic process that demands effort, commitment, and collective action. This year’s theme, “Cultivating a Culture of Peace,” resonates deeply. We must nurture a culture that values diversity, promotes empathy, and fosters understanding. A culture that recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of every individual.
“We must encourage dialogue and listening, bridging the gaps between nations, cultures, and communities, invest in education, empowering future generations with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for peaceful coexistence. We need to deliberately promote sustainable development, addressing the root causes of conflict and ensuring equitable access to resources.
“It is equally important that we all support human rights and justice, upholding the principles of equality, fairness, and compassion, embody peace in our daily lives, embracing nonviolence, forgiveness, and reconciliation” Audu said.
The State Commandant of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Comdt Adamu Aliyu in a speech at the occasion insisted that the Corps will always deploy the Three peace initiatives of peace keeping (which involves the use of force), peace making (which involves conflict resolution and mediation strategies) and peace building (which involves proactive measures that prevents violence).
Relatedly, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of EFHF Rev. Esther Inuwa insists that ensuring peaceful coexistence is a biblical obligation, designed to ensure that humanity lives and thrives.
She noted that the damage done to homes, communities and countries of the world as a result of violence at various levels may never be truly quantified and the trauma of victims may never be truly acknowledged.
