Global Peace Foundation, Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has held a unity in diversity peace festival in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.
The country director of the foundation, Rev. John Hayab, said the NGO is building a global network of grassroots leaders to develop community, national, and regional peacebuilding 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 peacebuilding and conflict prevention initiative.
According to him, the initiative seeks to mitigate sectarian violence by changing attitudes and behaviours that drive identity-based conflicts.
“Thereby promoting and sustaining social cohesion among various faiths, ethnic groups, and tribal groups.
“We are in Lapai to do what we call catch them young; it is a challenge that many of our elders faced during their time.
“They enjoyed peace with different religions, 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, however, called on youths, especially schoolchildren, 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 encouraging them to make good use of their faith teachings and traditions to unite as human beings.
He appreciated the 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, the Emir of Lapai, Alhaji Umaru Tafida III, thanked the foundation for initiating peace clubs in schools, adding that the move would go a long way towards fine-tuning the educational development of the schoolchildren at an 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-Habiya 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, Chairman, Peace Reconciliation Committee, Lapai Local Government Area, Yusuf Isah, 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 a drama presentation, cultural displays by different ethnic groups, a parade by Man-Or War, as well as a match pass by different schools.
