Int’l Peace Day: IPCR tasks Nigerians on peace building

By Ochiaka Ugwu

As part of efforts to celebrate the 2021 International Day for peace, the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) while tasking Nigerians on peace building may have started consultations with stakeholders to observe the day.
In a press statement released Sunday, signed by the Institute’s image manager, Esther Ndukwe, noted the Director General of the Institute, Dr. Bakut tswah Bakut urged Nigerians to take responsibility in their neighbourhoods, communities or groups to make peace happen through peace-building activities such as peace sensitization, peace advocacies, peace talks, arts, sports, dialogue and mediation, either online or offline.
According to the statement, “It should be noted that in social relations, conflict is inevitable and may be necessary for peace to occur.
“However, conflict becomes negative, destructive and costly to all when they become violent.
“It is our utmost conviction that peace is possible with non-violent approach to dispute resolution.
“We therefore call on all parties to dispute across the country to deploy the use of dialogue and non-violent approach to resolving their conflict.
“We encourage all Nigerians to use the upcoming Peace Day celebration on 21 September, 2021 to spread compassion, kindness, tolerance, hope, love and peace for sustained recovery from the impact of COVID-19 and violent conflict.
“We have begun listing of activities by stakeholders all over the country to track responses and impact.
“The Institute’s Facebook account is also open to receiving all recovery and peace-building activities by stakeholders for documentation and global visibility of local efforts towards realizing the theme of this year’s Peace Day, “Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world”.
Bakut informed that of particular importance this year, was the localization of the global call and practice of observing Ceasefire and non-violence on the 21st of September every year by combatants or parties in conflict.
“This also aligns with the African Union (AU) programme of “Silencing the Guns”.
“We are reaching out to and calling on all peace loving people, the civil society including faith-based groups, traditional and religious leaders, statesmen, women, youths and media peace networks, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Security Agencies and Development partners to leverage their mandates and areas of operational presence and influence to take action towards realizing a ceasefire or non-violence, especially on the Day of Peace” the statement read in part.