The Peace Interdisciplinary Research Institute (PIIRI), Abuja, in alliance with the British American University of California (BAUC), has underscored the importance of peacebuilding through humanitarian and social intervention programmes for global harmony and development.
This advocacy was the crux of the just concluded annual conference and awards investiture organised by PIIRI at the Micheal Opara University of Agriculture (MOUA), Umudike, Abia State, in which a Cameroonian peace and social development advocate, Maximilienne Chantale, was honoured with a Global Peace Ambassador Award (GPA).
A communique made available to LEADERSHIP in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, endorsed by the chairman, Professor Idorenyin Etukudoh; the secretary, Dr Saviour Ekpe, and Dr Etimbuk Umoh (member), explained that the annual forum became necessary “to explore findings in form of academic research to solve society problems.”
According to the communique, “seasoned academics, professionals and researchers converged at the summit to brainstorm on various areas affecting the economy of African nations, under the theme, ‘Action for Peace Towards Sustainable Development in Africa.'”
The president of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of PIIRI, Prof E. Udosen, advocated for “a world where peace is ensured in a sustainable dimension.”
“The International Day of Peace is observed around the world yearly. However, achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms; it requires building societies where all members feel that they can flourish.
“It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race. As the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, stated in this 2024 Peace Day celebration excerpt: “Peace is the ultimate prize for all humanity, and as this International Day of Peace reminds us, the solutions are in our hands.”
He, therefore, urged humanity that “cultivating a culture of peace means replacing division, disempowerment, and despair with justice, equality and hope for all. It means focusing on preventing conflict, propelling the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting human rights and tackling all forms of discrimination and hate.
“Together, let’s lay the groundwork for peace and let’s nurture a culture where equality, peace and justice thrive.
We are optimistic that this 2024 International Peace Day Conference shall provide a premier interdisciplinary platform for participants to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, concerns, practical challenges and recommend solutions for adoption in the field of global peace for the sustainable development of our society and the world at Large”.
Congratulating the awardees for meeting the selection criteria, Udosen charged them to justify the confidence reposed in them. He said:
“I congratulate all the awardees on your well-deserved nomination and investiture, and I charge you to justify the confidence reposed in you by this nomination.”
The conferees tasked the Nigerian governments to as a matter of urgency, set up a peace resolution committee to identify the causes of incessant violence, kidnapping, and gruesome killings in some part of the country with a view to finding permanent solution to conflicts, especially, North East, North Central, Kaduna South, South East and the Niger Delta Region.
Also, the conference urged the federal government to appoint persons with impeccable character with consistent good report to serve in the committee
Other resolutions included that “The Nigerian government should revitalise and revamp infrastructural facilities such as road network, schools, hospitals, electricity, amongst other socio-economic challenges.
“Government should facilitate the movement of people, goods, and services, stimulate economic growth and enhance the living condition of the people.
“In order to alleviate pains on Nigerians and create sustainable economic development, the four government-own refineries should be made operational by refining petroleum products for use by Nigerians as well as for export
“The Nigerian government should support, encourage and majorly patronize local manufacturers as this will guarantee sustainable development, thereby adding to the country’s GDP and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign exchange.
“In the same vein, African leaders through various regional bodies should ensure visa free access within the African continent. This will guarantee economic growth within Africa
“African Union should develop a master plan for an inter-continental rail line across African nations
“African Union (AU) and all its members states including Nigeria should create a special fund for researchers and encourage captains of industry to tap from the fountain of resources abound in the untapped research banks across Nigeria and Africa.”
