To commemorate the 2024 International Women’s Day (IWD) and to advocate for peace around the globe for meaningful development, Global Peace and Humanitarian Aid; Excellence ONE UK; Soccer for Peace Foundation; Center for Grassroots Development and Crime Prevention, and Global Forum for Peace, have collaborated to host ‘The Global Peace Leadership Conference and Awards’ in Abuja to recognise contributions of some individuals in the society for their efforts towards promoting peace and championing and advancing women’s rights.
The awardees include Lady Nneka Gloria Ezeh (Nigeria), Dr Ubon Udoh (Nigeria), Ayda Ozeren (Turkey), David Swanson (USA), Dr. Jiseok Jung (R. Korea), Surendra Mishra (India), Arthur Kanegis (USA), Davis Hartsough (USA), and Guy Feugap.
The winners were carefully selected by a panel set up by the groups.
In a paper presented by Dr. Ann Frish, a Professor Emeritus from the University of Wisconsin, USA, on ‘A New Paradigm of Peace, Leadership in Times of Global Crises’ with the same theme ‘A New Paradigm Of Peace Leadership In Time Of Global Crises’, he emphasised the need for global collaboration for world peace to ease community development around the world.
The convener of the conference and African regional representative of Global Peace Humanitarian Aids and Soccer for Peace Foundation, Amb. Ozuem Esiri, stated that the awards were presented to individuals and organisations who serve as role models and leaders who have consistently worked to promote peace, educate, inspire and make significant contributions in some of the areas of peace building, human development, gender equality, sustainable economic development, healthcare, education and the 17 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In addition, Global Peace Humanitarian Aids and Soccer for Peace Foundation presented a grant cheque of N3million to Face of Giving Initiative, a partner NGO, towards an empowerment program for women under PAD bank project.
Esiri, while presenting the project, reiterated that the project hoped to end period poverty by aiding underprivileged, vulnerable young adolescent girls, women and internally displaced girls.
Stressing that the initiative primarily targets girls in primary and secondary schools, as well as women from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, he pointed out that they would make reusable bank of sanitary products available to improve school attendance and allow the girls to remain in school for longer period.
He noted that the project also aims to provide reusable sanitary pads and hygiene education to 10,000 girls in rural community schools and IDP camps.
In his message, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, spoke on the need for more advocacy for peace to curb the pervasive crisis situation world over and crisis within the country.
The IGP, who was represented by ACP Sunday Digha, added that as a people, there was need to abolish wars, strifes, hostilities, insecurity and embrace peaceful coexistence in the world in the issue of security, while also stressing that all hands must be on deck to secure our society as all citizens are stakeholders in the policing of the communities even as he stressed that the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies can not do it alone.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by Hajiya Hadiza Maina, saluted the strength, courage, and resilience of the Nigerian women and their accomplishments across various fields.
Award recepient and President of Neckycharles Foundation, Lady Nneka Gloria Ezeh, who spoke on ‘Women Mental Stability for Economic Growth’, restated the importance of mental health for women while Dr. Ubon Udoh, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of ASR Africa Initiative, in his remark, commended the organisers and called for peace in every segment of the society.
