By Don Peter Okoro
Friday the 15th of December 2023 will remain indelible in the minds and hearts of Members, Associates and Friends of the United Nations Peace and Positive Living Awareness Centre ( PEPOLAC) in Lagos State, as they gathered at the Olumo Hall of the Airport Hotel Ikeja Lagos to celebrate the 2023 World Peace Day Event In Nigeria–Lagos State.
It was a time for the Culture of Peace Awareness/ Peace Awards/ Appointments/ Investitures and Paper Presentations with the Theme: Action For Peace, Our Ambition For Sustainable Peace In Lagos State Communities, Unveiling and Commissioning of Peace Alive Initiative In Lagos State.
The high Octane event which took place under the Distinguished Chairmanship of Dr. Bello O. Sunny, a Leadership Consultant, had His Excellency Babajide Olusola Sanwo–Olu, the Executive Governor of Lagos State as the Chief Guest Of Honour and DCP (Prof.) Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi as the Distinguished Guest Of Honour, while HRH Oba Samuel Oladele Dawodu, the Origba of Igbepa,Shagamu, Ogun State, as the Royal Father of the Day.
In his key note address, the International Coordinator, H.E. Amb.Rt. Rev. Dr. Festus Ozioma Ozoemena, R.O. I. S, JP, Amb. MP– UN who is equally the Convener, revealed that the Organization was registered in Nigeria in April 2016 and Chatered with the UN/UNESCO same year as an International Organization with Multi Sectoral Regional Office in Abuja, for the promotion of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNESCO Culture of Peace Project and Positive Living.
According to the International Coordinator,:””The Organization is currently integrated into the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations ( ECOSOC) for International Diplomacy and Protocol.”” Speaking further, he said:”” Our core mandate includes: promotion of culture of peace through programs and activities, mobilization of credible Individuals as Volunteer Peace Advocates of the United Nations, with Appointments into various categories of Peace Advocacy such as: World Ambassadors for Goodwill, Mayor for World Peace,World Peace Messengers, Ambassadors for World Peace, Justices for World Peace, Youth Peace Ambassadors, Ambassadors for Community Peace and others.
“” He explained that:””We engage in peace education and tourism, peace building activities, mediations, conflict management, prevention and leveraging on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism and focussing on specialized and intensive research and such programs as in consonance with our aims and objectives.”” On why the people are gathered for the event, he opened up:””
Today’s Event marks the Celebration of the World Peace Day in Lagos State, even though the actual day was 21st of September. This event is celebrated globally annually to Institutionalize the ideals of Peace among the children of the world.
This year’s global theme is:””Action For Peace,Our Ambition For The Global Goals, but we have domesticated it to be:. “”Action For Peace, Our Ambition For Sustainable Peace in Lagos State Communities, because the effectiveness of peace work when it gets to the grassroots. It is from the communities that we can achieve the global peace goals.””
Among the segments that took place were the inauguration of the second set of Volunteer Peace Advocates in Lagos, the first being in 2023, the unveiling and commissioning of Peace Alive Initiative, honouring of the Governor of Lagos State with the Most Distinguished World Ambassador for Goodwill Award, Investitures and honouring of some Individuals from Lagos State and other parts of Nigeria.””.
The following are the people appointed as National Patrons and Patronesses of UN PEPOLAC during the Lagos event. 1.DCP(Prof.) Ahmed Mohammed Sanusi Amb. UN Patron, 2. Prof. Okwun Omeaku Amb.UN Patron, 3.Asiwaju Mashood Shittu, Amb. UN, Patron, 4.Chief Barr. Mrs. Victoria Odumegwu Ojukwu Amb UN. Patroness, 5.Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Igwe Amb. UN, Patroness. The International Coordinator of the UN PEPOLAC stated that what earned them this prestigious Honour and Seat in the Organization is their positive antecedents and excellent peaceful disposition.
He charged them to uphold the tenets of peace at all times and International Solidarity and that they should justify the trust reposed on them by the leadership of the Organization, showing the examples of peace as Pillars of the Organization in Nigeria. In all, it was a well attended Program full of grace and panache, well planned and executed with mathematical precision. Meanwhile, next year’s Program holds in Abuja on the 28th of March 2024 at Merit House. Window for Recommendation and Nomination opens from Monday the 1st of January 2024.
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