Provost counsels students on peace, unity

By Maryam Garba Hassan

Nigerian Students under the umbrella body of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have been called upon to be tolerant of one another irrespective of individual differences for peace and unity to reign.

A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the College, Bashir Abdullahi, stated that the call was made by the Provost, Federal College of Education, Yola, Prof. Abdul-Mumin Sa’ad, while speaking at a Peace Summit organized by NANS Adamawa/Taraba axis in Yola, Adamawa state.

The statement said, Prof. Sa’ad who was represented by the Dean, School of Education Mallam Abdul-Hamid Mohammed, said understanding, tolerance and respect for each other’s view point is the bedrock for a peaceful coexistence.

Chairman of the occasion while declaring the summit open, commended NANS for organizing the gathering and further stated that peace, unity and stability are central to the development, progress and prosperity of any nation, the statement added.

“You should understand that as youths, who constitute over 70% of the vanguard of our society and the foundation of any development are vulnerable to all sorts of distractions. I employ you to be very tolerant, sensitive and conscious of situations at all times,” Sa’ad, said.

Delivering a lecture titled ‘Human rights and Freedom of Religion’, by veteran journalist and a columnist, Mr. Timaus Mathais, attributed the current insurgency facing the country as a creation of quarrels between two political groups in the country and called on the students not to disagree among themselves on the bases of religion.

“Boko Haram is a creation of quarrels between two political classes and we say shame on to those who masterminded Boko Haram on the bases of religion. We therefore should not kill ourselves on the bases of religion because there is no compulsion in religion as stated by our predominant religions”.

He charged the students to seek wisdom, be just in dealing with others, have courage to face challenges of life and to have self

-control as according to him are the only things that will attract others to their faiths.

In his speech, President of NANS, comrade Tijjani Usman, commended President Good Luck Jonathan for the recent successes recorded in the fight against insurgency and encouraged him to do more for peace to prevail in the country and tasked students to embrace harmonious relationship.

Earlier in a welcome address, Chairman of Join Campus Committee, Adamawa/Taraba Axis, Comrade Ahmed Mohammed Marafa, said the forum was organized by the body as its contribution to the fight against the menace of insecurity.

The peace summit featured presentation of awards to several individuals, including the Emir of Gombe, Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar, for his contribution to peace and humanity.