Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, FCT Command has partnered the University of Abuja, UniAbuja, on the promotion of peace building for sustainable development.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that officers and men of the command, as well as some students and management staff of UniAbuja, embarked on a peace walk in Gwagwalada area of the FCT yesterday.
The FCT Commandant, NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, said there was no better way to sustain growth and Nigeria’s political system without peace.
“We are partnering the university, as there is the need for us to carry youths along in peace building and enforcement.
“This is an academic environment with vast population. So, this will give us the reach to preach peace and carry them along so that they can better appreciate the country,” Odumosu said.
According to him, the programme is aimed at promoting the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s development goals.
“Mr President means well for Nigeria through the Renewed Hope Agenda and all the policies in place can only be achieved if there is peace in the country.
“To ensure peace, it is important that while recognising our diversity, there is the need to see each other as one.
“There is no society that will thrive nor investor that will come into the country if the narrative is negative,” he said.
The commandant acknowledged that the relationship between both institutions would boost academic opportunities for officers and men of the command.
“There are some programmes that I feel we can leverage on to broaden our horizon and expertise in handling certain issues,” Odumosu said.
The Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Muttiullah Olasupo, stated that the best way to ensure peace is to allow justice reign in the society.
He decried the idea of seeing Nigeria as a secular state, adding that this notion had not helped in promoting peace in the country.
“Nigeria is not a secular state, but a multi-religious state and the federal government needs to recognise that.
“We must put an end to kidnapping, banditry, terrorism ethnic conflict, religious bigotry within ourselves and in our community, as well as those menace that are providing obstacles to development in Nigeria.
“Let us do everything possible to make each and every one of us ambassadors of peace,” he said.
Olasupo added that for Africa to be peaceful, political leaders must not perpetuate themselves in power.
“For peace to reign in our society, youths must be given the opportunity to also participate effectively in our societal building.
“This is the only way we can achieve sustainable peace, as it has been encapsulated in the sustainable development goals,” he said.(NAN)
