The Director of the Abdulsalami Abubakar Institute for Peace and Sustainable Development Studies, AAIPSDS, Dr Diamond Preye Nebechukwu, has emphasised the need for urgent action by relevant stakeholders to address challenges such as insurgency, banditry, and communal violence confronting the nation, in order to build a peaceful society.
Nebechukwu stated this during the commemoration of the International Day of Peace, with the theme “Voices of Peace: Pathways to a Peaceful Future,” organised by the Institute in Minna.
She said these issues pose a serious threat to national stability and development.
She further noted that poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion have contributed to fuelling conflicts in communities, arguing that by working together, Nigeria can build a more peaceful and stable society, thereby reducing the impact of security challenges on its citizens and the economy.
“The aftermath of insurgency in the North East, farmer-herder conflicts in the North Central, while in the North West, banditry and mass abductions of people [are] testing our collective resilience. Also, in our cities and rural communities abides poverty, unemployment and social exclusion leading to circles of violence. These have weakened people’s trust in governance and deepened human suffering,” Dr Nebechukwu insisted.
The director explained that as part of its efforts to address these challenges, AAIPSDS organised the event to bring together students, teachers, government officials, and civil society organisations to promote peace and dialogue among young people.
She noted that by instilling the values of peace and empathy early in young people, society can become stronger and more peaceful for everyone.
“A particular concern for this gathering is the rising tides of youth restiveness and students’ violence. Our young people who are supposed to be our leaders of tomorrow are increasingly drawn into destructive behaviours that undermine education, safety and community harmony. This is not just a school issue but a national challenge that speaks to the very foundation of our society,” she maintained.
Also speaking, Mr Daniel Yisa, a Director from the Niger State Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education, said peace remains the backbone of educational growth, without which schools cannot thrive, hence the need to engage in dialogue with everyone as peace ambassadors.
“We commend AAIPSDS for organising this programme by bringing students from various schools together and other stakeholders to discuss issues of violence, among others. This is bearing in mind that some schools have experienced conflicts and violent clashes among students in the state.
“The Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education will continue to inculcate peace in our schoolchildren, especially in the face of many of these violences in schools. We commend AAIPSDS for encouraging the setting up of peace clubs in schools in Minna, and as a ministry we are going to establish the clubs in the 25 local governments.”
Speaking on their takeaways from the event, some of the students expressed their commitment to being good ambassadors of peace in their schools and communities, promoting understanding, empathy, and non-violent conflict resolution.
They highlighted the importance of acquiring skills to prevent restiveness and promote peaceful coexistence.
