Daud Olatunji
The One-Day Peace Education Symposium, organized by the Cardinal Onaiyekan Peace Foundation and hosted in Abeokuta, was marked by a compelling welcome address from the convener, Nurse Oladejo Al-Ghazal Shakirat.
Addressing the audience, she emphasized the crucial need to educate individuals on peace-building in the face of rising political divides leveraging diversity.
“Education on peace-building is paramount in today’s society. Diversity should unite us, not divide us. We’ve witnessed the use of diversity as a political tool, as seen in the last election with Muslim-Muslim tickets.
“Now, more than ever, we must strive for peaceful coexistence while practicing our religions,” asserted Oladejo Al-Ghazal Shakirat.
The symposium’s keynote speaker, Dr. Abdul Sabur Salam, Deputy Registrar 1 Senate and Admission at FUNAAB, stressed the pivotal role of youth in nation-building.
“Get the youth right, and you get the nation right.
“Peace education, understanding the essence of peace, and establishing peace clubs in schools are vital steps towards fostering harmony,” stated Dr. Salam.
He underscored the significance of resolving conflicts through non-violent means.
The theme of diversity as a cornerstone for peace was expounded upon by various speakers.
Pastor Mrs. Ogunyemi Oluwakemi, a pastor at RCCG Divine Champion Area Headquarters, delved into the topic of peace and unity in a diverse system.
Drawing from Hebrews 12:14, she defined peace as freedom from disturbance and highlighted the importance of treating others with respect and unity.
Muslim speaker Mrs. Ishaq Anifowose Amatullateef, Project Officer at the Human Rights Advancement, Development, and Advocacy Center for West Africa, emphasized the need for tolerance.
“We should tolerate each other,” she urged, emphasizing the golden rule of treating others as one wishes to be treated.
Further enriching the symposium, Pharmacist Dosunmu Sulaiman Adeite, Principal Pharmacist 2 at the Directorate of Health Services, FUNAAB, shed light on the impact of substance abuse on societal peace and harmony.
Addressing the excessive use of psychoactive drugs, he cautioned against the gradual health deterioration resulting from substance abuse.
Pharmacist Adeite advocated caution before accepting substances from others, whether consciously or unconsciously.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the Peace Education Symposium served as a significant platform to promote understanding, harmony, and tolerance in diverse societies, echoing the sentiment that peace is the antidote to the poison of violence
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