Dr. Bakut Bakut, Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), on Tuesday urged Nigerians to take proactive actions to end disputes and achieve long-term peace.
Bakut made the remarks during the United Nations International Peace Day celebrations in Abuja.
“Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World” is the topic for the day.
International World Peace Day is observed yearly on September 21st, according to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN).
Bakut stated that peace could only be attained if all citizens joined hands to offer peace for the sake of progress and development.
“The question is, how are we, as Nigerians, dealing with the massive challenges we’ve faced?”
“These include conflict, the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and other health-related issues such as cholera which recently reared its ugly head again.
“Natural disasters such as flood and climate change, food security, humanitarian challenges, human rights abuses, and youth unemployment are bedeviling the existence of the country.
“The nation and indeed the military are doing their best in tackling the conflicts and challenges of COVID-19.
“I hereby use the opportunity to congratulate you all and wish you well,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has urged global citizens around the world to celebrate peace by observing 24 hours of ceasefire and non-violence.
According to Guterres, the UN is striving to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and look forward to a better future for people and the planet
“Peace is the foundation of that recovery. The global vaccination effort cannot advance amid armed conflict.
“Nor can we build a sustainable, resilient, peaceful world while we are at war with nature.
“Recovery efforts offer an opportunity to transform our relationship with our planet and our environment.
“The world cannot go back to what it was.
“As we count down to the International Day of Peace, I call on people everywhere to be part of a transformation for peace, by standing up against hatred and discrimination, by caring for the planet, and by showing the global solidarity that is so vital at this time,” the UN scribe said.
