Political scientist, Dr Enemaku Idachaba, has stated that people and societies will only seek peace for its own sake when they are trained or conditioned to seek it and when they can enjoy and profit from it.
The don ─ from the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan ─ made this known on Saturday during the 2024 African Institute for the Justice of the Peace (AIJP) Fellows’ Investiture in Ibadan in commemoration of International Peace Day.
Idachaba, in his lecture titled ‘Building a culture of peace in Africa: Now is the time to take action’, stressed that to achieve a good society, good activists with a knowhow are needed, and that the main goal is to shape the future using cultural characters to create representative authorities that will produce universal abundance.
In the course of the lecture, the don spoke extensively on the origins of the culture of peace, the culture of peace and non-violence, the foundation for the culture of peace, building a culture of peace in Africa, among others.
He stressed that peace education is the best antidote to extremism, fanatism, arrogance, and intransigence, adding, “Yes, peace is possible; and Africans are capable of inventing their own future. Therefore, to transform the economy of war into an economy of generalised development, investments, diversification and education are needed.”
Idachaba concluded his lecture by stating that principles, propositions, and policies do not make a society transform itself ─ rather, new attitudes and radical activities do.
In light of this, the don added, “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.”
Daniel Godwin of the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan; and Michael Akinbowale, legal expert and chairman of Oyo State Justice of the Peace, remarked on Idachaba’s lecture, offering contributions and recommendations on how to achieve peace and development in Nigeria and Africa.
Earlier on, lawyer and registrar of the AIJP, Ogunnaike Oluseyi, stated that the institute is committed to access to justice, peace and conflict resolution in Africa through education, training and research.
Oluseyi said, “Our values are justice, peace, impartiality, respect, for human rights, community engagement, collaboration, and excellence.”
He noted that the essence of the celebration of International Peace Day is to reiterate commitment to building a culture of peace in Africa and called on the members and fellows of the institute to support the institute’s humanitarian activities and free training programmes.
Oluseyi further noted that the institute is planning to establish the African Peace Watch magazine and engage in humanitarian activities, supporting widows, orphans, the aged, people with disabilities, and prison inmates.
According to the registrar, Africa Peace Ambassadors, comprising 21 Doctoral Fellows, 15 Fellows, and one full member were invested by the institute. He added that the institute honoured four people and one member of the Oyo State Justice of the Peace with special recognition awards.
For the recognition awards, the Outstanding Justice of the Peace Award was awarded to Mrs Rachael Oyedemi, the General Secretary of the Oyo State Justice of the Peace; the Top African Peace Ambassador Award was awarded to Dr James Olugbohunmi; Road Peace Champion Award went to Corps Commander Rosemary Alo; Law Enforcement Leadership Award went to Folasade Tiamiyu-Daniel, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Oyo State; Royal Service to Humanity Awards went to the Oluwoo of Iwo-Oke Kingdom, Oba Abdulkadiri Adeoye II.
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