Mararaba: Peace Corps of Nigeria has advocated vigorous campaigns on peace education, cultural orientation on unity, and social cohesion as solutions to the spate of violence in the country. The National Commandant of the Corps, Dr. Dickson Akoh, proposed these solutions in Mararaba, Nasarawa State during a National Stakeholders’ Conference aimed at exploring ways to tackle the prevalence of violence in the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the conference was organized by the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM-UNESCO). Dr. Akoh, who was represented by Deputy National Commandant, Dr. Kabiru Mohammed, emphasized that sustainable peace is essential for national development. He highlighted the need for re-orientating citizens’ minds towards promoting values that foster unity rather than division.
Dr. Akoh stressed that these values should include mutual respect and a mindset that resolves conflicts through dialogue instead of violence. He insisted that such values must be deliberately taught, reinforced, and institutionalized through both formal and informal education systems. “We must begin from our classrooms to motor parks, from our community halls to our marketplaces,” he stated.
He further mentioned that the organization had initiated various nation-building programs in schools and communities to instill a culture of tolerance. “Through our peace education programs, community-based sensitization campaigns, and schools outreach projects, we have continued to empower young Nigerians to become ambassadors of peace, tolerance, and national cohesion,” he added.
Dr. Akoh also commended NATCOM-UNESCO for their initiative and pledged the Peace Corps’ support for the program, as it aligns with the Corps’ vision and operations.
