By Okechukwu Onuegbu
An internationally renowned not-for-profit and Nongovernmental organisation, United Nations Peace and Positive Living Awareness Centre (UN-PEPOLAC), has urged the world to imbibe the culture of peace, describing it as an antidote for sustainable development.
The Convener and International Coordinator of UN-PEPOLAC, Ambassador Dr Ozioma Ozoemena, who disclosed this at Awka, the Anambra State capital at commemoration of world peace day, also argued that peaceful coexistence would bring about harmony across communities, society and world at large.
According to him, the theme for this year's world peace day, cultivating a culture of peace, imperatives in our contemporary society, was commendable and the event deserves attention of all and sundry especially this period of national security security architecture collapse.
"Justice the very basis for law and order has disappeared into the oblivion, lawlessness and impunity has taken the stage, the leaders and the led are at the crossroads of confusion, the judiciary has become the hope of the rich and poor is left in hopelessness, hunger and strike is glaring on the face of the masses, evil and corruption are enthroned, human race has become a jungle for the survival of the fittest," he stated.
Ozoemena, while recalling the efforts of the organisation to spread the messages of peace around the world, commended the Anambra State government for joining the few States in Nigeria is signing a peace building bill into law.
According to him, the Anambra State peace building and conflict management law was sponsored by the Deputy Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Patrick Akpua, was passed into law in May 2024 and assented to by governor Chukwuma Soludo on June 10, 2024.
"With signing of this bill into law, Anambra State is good to go in the matter of peace building and conflicts management issues and related matters. It fully implementation will help to curbing insecurity challenges, alarming civil cases in our courts, disputes and crisis among communities and in public institutions, and other establishments.
"I therefore request our governor to expedite action by establishing the agency to serve its purposes for the good of Anambra, transforming into peaceful, liveable and prosperous home land. I equally wish to use this medium to request Anambra and all and sundry to imbibe the culture of peace for sustainable development, peaceful coexistence and harmony in our communities, society and world at large," he noted.
Earlier in a keynote speech, Professor Jaja Nwanegbo of Institute for Peace, Security and Development Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, charged all to embrace peace, because according to him, wherever it radiates, there is bound to be development.
Contributing, the discussants at the programme, including Professor Echezona Ifejirika and Dr Bibian Ugoala, emphasised the needs for all to become peace advocates at all times because according to them, our actions and inactions could kill, build, destroy, make or mar our relationship with people and institutions.
Factcheckng reports that the event was climaxed by induction of new members into the UN-PEPOLAC Ambassador awards, including presentation of vehicle number plates to several peace advocates around the world. Some of the beneficiaries were Chief Charles Udenna, Dr Obiageri Ashara, Rev. Dr Ijeoma Nkem Okedo, Onyebarachi Ikenna, Ikechukwu Mishack Odide, among others.
Speaking in an interview, a newly inducted Ambassador of Peace and Real Estate cum Business Executive, Mr Ikechukwu Odide, said he was committed to promoting peace among the youth and communities with a view to make the world a better place to live.
Another awardee and wife of the Bishop of Living Epistles Ministries International, Rev. Dr. Ijeọma Okedo, maintained that the honour would encourage her to affect more lives positively as a pastor and medical practitioner.