In commemoration of 2023 International Day Of Peace, Rotary Nigeria and partner organisations for Activating Positive Peace In Nigeria programme has flagged off national peace education programme to sensitise Nigerians, especially students and youth on salient issues of peace, human rights and democracy.
At an event yesterday held at the Army Resource Centre, participants were students, youth and teachers drawn from different secondary schools and faithbased organizations within the Federal Capital Territory and also representatives from government institutions.
Speaking at the event, National Coordinator, Activating Positive Peace In Nigeria, Dr Pietro Uzochukwu Macleo said the initiative was borne out the need for a sustainable sensitization programme on peace, human rights and democratic ideals, with an objective to build capacities and resilience of Nigerians.
He said, “The national education intervention has been designed to have an immediate, short and long term positive impact on individuals, institutions, structures and systems; with the logic to overwhelm behaviours to influence change.”
Macleo revealed that over 10,000 peace practitioners will be empowered across the country to liaise with managers of primary and secondary schools, tertiary educations, women and youth groups, faith-based and civil society organisations.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Nigerian Army, INEC, National Human Rights Commission and NOA for volunteering resource persons for the event.
Also speaking, Acting Director Library And Archives, Lt Col AY Bello while delivering a paper on Peace Enlightenment Programme On Citizens said the need for peace in the world cannot be over-emphasised, adding that the actions citizens take, even in their closet can affect the wider world.
On rights of citizens, he urged the participants to know their rights and try to stand and defend it through peaceful means and proper channels without having to take up arms or go into violence.
“Take your responsibilities seriously and do it with all patriotism. I believe that the violence we see around us, if we all defend our rights, take up our responsibilities, none of these things would happen.”
“As citizens, I urge you to respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, carryout your duties and responsibilities as citizens and when that counts, it will be better for all of us.”
On her part, Peace Zonal Coordinator (PZC) Rtn Mariam Ahmed from Rotary Club of Abuja Jabi Lakeside said the meeting is not the first, but that today is an extension to schools were students and youth will form Peace Clubs in Schools and Grassroot Communities.
“We are using the students because they are the future leaders of tomorrow and the reconscientization begins with them. If we don’t enhance their social resilience, anything the society, peer pressure or groups throws at them, they may succumb and become a menace to the society. Personally, peace means the world to me, because it is only when there’s peace that you can donanything meaningful and sustainable.
“The students we are raising today, no matter what level of education they get to, without peace they won’t have a fair level playing ground to put whatever they have learnt from school and society into practice. So, I further advocate that beyond Peace Clubs, peace education should be part a of the academic curriculum for students, and should begin from the kindergarten.”
One of the students, Mariam Amusi from Stella Maries College while sharing her takeaway from the event said she has learnt a lot about the action of peace and her rights as a citizen.
“Joining Interact Club in school, I will invite people to talk about more on how we can improve our community by teaching fellow students to avoid examination malpractice, stealing and also teaching them to follow good friends and the ways of peace.”
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