By Abayomi Elias
As their own quota of contribution in commemorating the 2025 United Nations International Day of Peace, the Lagos State Chapter of Institute Of Global Peace And Conflict Management (IGPCM) appealed to all stakeholders to make urgent plans in settling all issues causing disunity in their families.
Newsconnect reports that IGPCM made this passionate appeal at the press conference/symposium organized by the institute ahead of the peace walk scheduled today 21st of September 2025, the day set aside by United Nations to commemorate International Day of Peace.
The Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of Institute of Global Peace and Conflict Management Kenneth Rafua in consonance with the 2025 theme dubbed “Act Now For A Peaceful World “appealed to families to act now towards resolving the conflicts in their homes.
He posited that peace is something you make is not something you wish, hence fathers, mother’s, children, community should be deliberate as they make plans towards resolving their conflicts.
“Bring peace to your home first, if you have disagreement in your home especially between you and your wife, your child, your neighbors, act now, bring peace with them, go to your communities, participate with the cda, preach about peace in the community.
“Peace is something you make, is not something you wish, if you are praying for it and not acting is like a faith without good works. You don’t say I want peace and you are not working towards the peace.
“If there is a disagreement between couples and none of them is taking the initiative to make the peace process. They may wish but if they are not acting it, peace may not reign.
“If you live on a street, despite the high rate of nefarious activities going on, if you have peace, you should be grateful to God”. He said.
The Secretary of IGPCM Lagos State Chapter Emmanuel Oladeji said the essence of the press conference is to tell people about peace, how peace can reign in their community, in the local government, Lagos State and Nigeria at large. Emmanuel also said the Peace walk is to sensistise the entire community.
In an interview with journalists at the event, he said;
“We move from Lagos State Secretariat, and end at Ikeja Local Government. People should act now for a peaceful world.
“Everybody comes from a source, one of the source is the home, they should start peace program in their homes.
“Many of the problems we are having these days start from home. Problems from home is what is escalating to the society. That is why when they start from their home, they can take the message to the community.
“It will be passed along to their children as they go to school. The children would also pass a message to other children. So everybody which includes the father, the mother, the church, the community as a whole need to act from their source irrespective of where you are”. He said.
The host local government Chairman Comrade Akeem Olalekan Dauda, the Executive Chairman of Ikeja Local Government in his brief remark at the event said without peace there cannot be a nation.
He identifies himself with the institute and their interventions.
In his words, he said
“If you are traveling to the North, if you don’t do sacrifice, you may not be able to go by road ditto the east. The relative peace we are enjoying in the south here today is not by accident, it is because of all these institutions that continue to do advocacy, educating our people, why we have to live in harmony”. He said.
National Orientation Agency Community Mobiliser and Orientation officer Onigbongbo LCDA, Lagos State Directorate Mr Gbolahan Oguntade told this medium at the event that people should Shun violence in their local communities and be a good ambassador out there.
In his words, he said;
“In our agency we have a program being designed for this kind of event. It is called Nigeria Identity Project.
“In National Identity Project, citizens have their roles, Government have their roles and even institutions. Under citizen, there should be duty of care. Under Government, Government Promises Democracy, Security, Meritocracy.
“We have to tolerate one another, we have to be resilient, we have to be hardworking and peaceful in order for us to live a violent free environment”.
The actions reeled out by the keynote speaker SC OO Abolurin, Civil Defence PRO , Lagos State Command as he advocated for peace at the press conference/symposium include;
1.ABSENCE OF CONFLICT
2.JUSTICE AND EQUALITY
3.HARMONY AND UNDERSTANDING.
4.SUSTAINABILITY AND WELL-BEING
5.EDUCATE AND SPEAK UP
6.PRACTICE UNDERSTANDING
7.SUPPORT PEACE EFFORTS
8.EMBRACE DIVERSITY
9.PROMOTE NON-VIOLENCE
10.BE A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN
11.EXAMPLES OF GLOBAL PEACE
IGPM partners with civil society organisation like Ogwus Foundation. They also have partnership with organisation which include Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice , Ministry of Engagement, Ministry of Youth & Sport and the social media for their continuous advocacy on peace and development