A non-governmental organisation, called ‘Arm the Child Foundation’ and some internally displaced persons in Abuja, have urged Nigerians to eschew their ethnic and religious differences and embrace one another.
They stated this as part of the activities to mark this year’s International Day of Sports for Peace and Development.
The United Nations recognises April 6 annually as International Day of Sports for Peace and Development.
At a novelty match organised to preach peace and unity in Nigeria at the weekend, president and founder of the Arm the Child Foundation, Shuwargwe Damak, called on all relevant stakeholders to ensure restoration of peace and unity in Nigeria, saying that socio-economic development cannot thrive in an environment of violence.
According to Damak, Nigerians should always remember that they are Nigerians first before whatever ethnic group or religion they identify with.
She said: “Kick for Peace is an annual friendly match, it is a novelty football match that we organised to bring people together regardless of their backgrounds to come and watch soccer and play soccer.
“We have been working with Internationally Displaced Children over the past five years and the existence of Internally Displaced Children is as a result of peace in different parts of the country. In the absence of peace social-economic development can’t thrive.
“When you travel outside the country, as soon as you get to Immigration borders of foreign countries, nobody will ask you for the passport of your ethnic group, what they will ask for is the Passport of your country. ”
When asked why the choice of soccer, she described the game as an enabler of peace, adding that whenever the soccer game is on, nobody talks about ethnicity or religion.
Some of the displaced children who narrated their experiences, urged government and Nigerians to come to their aid in Abuja IDPs camp.
One of them, Mathias Yakubu Gowon, who hails from Borno State, lamented the deplorable standard of living in the camp, urging the government to assist them.
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