Global peace foundation holds peace festival in Lapai Niger state
By : Our Correspondent
Global Peace Foundation, Nigeria, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), has held a unity in diversity peace festival in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.
Rev. Joseph John Hayab, Country Director of the foundation, said the NGO is building a global network of grassroots leaders to develop community, national and regional peace building models for ethical, cohesive and compassionate societies guided by the vision of one family under God.
Hayab explained that the “One Family Under God” campaign by the foundation is a values based peace building and conflict prevention initiative.
According to him, the initiative seeks to mitigate sectarian violence by changing attitudes and behaviors that drive identity based conflicts.
“Thereby promoting and sustaining social cohesion among various faiths, ethnic and tribal groups.
“We are in Lapai to do what we call catch them young, it is a challenge that many of our elders during their time.
“They enjoyed peace with different religion, but now there is so much division, people are hiding under religion, ethnicity and region using different identities to divide us,”he said.
The Country Director called on youths, especially school children to say no to division, adding that a divided community cannot progress or succeed.
He stressed that enemies of peace want to divide people, adding that if people were united, they could easily defeat enemies of peace.
“I urge Nigerians to unite across religious, tribal and regional lines. Let us be one,” he stated
The cleric emphasised that the NGO’s one family under God campaign is not asking people to abandon their faith but encourage them to make good use of their faith teachings and tradition to unite as human beings.
He appreciated Lapai emirate council and the people for their support and encouragement throughout the period the foundation had been in the area to set up peace clubs in no fewer than 12 schools.
In his remarks, Emir of Lapai, Alhaji Umaru Tafida III, thanked the foundation for initiating peace clubs in schools, adding that the move would go along way to fine-tune the educational development of the school children at their early stage.
Represented by Alhaji Umaru Lapai, a title holder in the Emirate, the traditional ruler prayed for the leadership of the foundation and assured them of the emirate’s support at all times.
On his part, Imam Ibrahim Idris of Al- Habibiya Islamic Society, Abuja, said his organisation had aligned with the thinking and initiative of the foundation and enjoined Nigerians to live in peace with one another.
Also speaking, Yusuf Isah, Chairman, Peace Reconciliation Committee, Lapai Local Government Area, described the intervention of the foundation in the area as a step in the right direction.
Isah pointed out that the role played by the foundation has created more awareness as well as cemented the relationship between the indigenous and non indigenous residents of Lapai.
The festival featured drama presentation, cultural display by different ethnic groups, parade by Man-Or War as well as match pass by different schools.
