NIGERIA
(2005
World Peace Prayer Society Report)
Mojima Umo Etokudo, Ika Land
Report
on the 2005 International Day of Peace Organized by the World Peace
Prayer Society-Nigeria Chapter on 21st September, 2005
The
21st day of September 2005 was an epoch-making day at Ika
Local Government Area, where the Nigeria Chapter of the WPPS pitched
a tent to celebrate the year’s International Day of Peace.
The event took off with the prayer of thanksgiving to
God for His enduring mercies, after which the youth wing rendered
inspirational songs to give glory and honour to God and to keep the
teeming participants together in one accord.
The
Chairman of the day’s occasion, Mr. Imo Ukpongette, the Governor of
the Royal Club of Nigeria, in his opening speech called on parents,
churches, non-governmental organizations, the Government and the youths
to embrace peace as a pathway to productive ventures. He ended his
speech by saying, “I salute the WPPS for finding Ika fit to host this
year’s International Day of Peace. It is my belief that this is a
day of history and a day that the pacification of Ika by the 2002
crisis is nailed while unification is installed. This is the day the
Lord has made. May Peace Prevail on Earth.”
A thought-provoking
speech was rendered by WPPS-Nigeria Peace Representative, Mr. Mojima
Umo Etokudo. Excerpts of his speech included: “This community is blessed
to host this year’s peace celebration in Nigeria: our goodwill message
for you is ‘May Peace Prevail in Ika Land.” He further stressed that
the meeting was a unique one in the sense that “it is noticed nationwide
that there has been a positive indication confirming the Ika people’s
commitment to embrace peace as a panacea for development. Therefore
let government at all levels, social policies and programmes elicit
peace and harmony.”
During
the prayer session, fervent prayers were offered by Ministers of God
for the unity of the Local Government, the Council staff, the state,
the nation and the world at large.
An
eminent scholar, the environmentalist Dr. Iniodu Ukpong, presented
a thought-provoking paper on the need for peace, in which he stated
that peace is a panacea for communal harmony, community development
and for harmonious worship of God.
The
Head of the Ika Local Government, Obongemem Epkereikpe Ekpo (KSJ,
JP, AP), who was the Chief Host in reaction to the indoor activities,
thanked the WPPS-Nigeria for choosing his Local Government for the
year’s event and promised to adopt the prayer, “May Peace Prevail
on Earth” as a tool, as this has to do with the well-being of humanity.
Peace
Awards were conferred on deserving indigenes of Ika Land, who were:
- HRM
Obong (Dr) Ekpenyong Udoutun -
The Chancellor, Federal University of Maiduguri, as the “Pillar
of Peace”
- Obongemem
Ekpereikpke Ekpo - as Ambassador of Peace
- Apostle
Samuel Noah - as Peace
Advocate
- Mr.
Imo Ukpongette - as Peace Advocate
- Hon.
Aniekan Akpan - as Justice of Peace
- Pastor
Okon Esu - as Justice of Peace
- Elder
S.S. Asana - as
Peace Advocate
Each
of the awardees was presented with a desktop Peace Pole and a certificate
of honour.
Distinguished
personalities who attended the ceremony made their declaration as
they penned their wishes to both the Local Government and the WPPS-International/Local
declaration booklet.
The
outdoor event was the planting and unveiling of the concrete Peace
Pole. The unveiling of the Peace Pole was done by the Head of Council,
as directed by the Nigeria representative of WPPS.
Long
live the World Peace Prayer Society.
Long
live the United Nations.
Long
live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
May
Peace Prevail on Earth.
Mojima
Umo Etokudo
WPPS
Peace Representative
Olaitan Ibiyemi, Lagos State
REPORT
OF THE 2005 INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PEACE AS MARKED BY
AGENDA
FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT–AFCODE IN NIGERIA
The
preparation made by Agenda for Community Development for the International
Day for Peace 2005 dated back to September 1, 2005 with Peace Art
Camp for Children. The camp started on September 1, 2005 and ended
September 15, 2005. The Art Camp which had 35 children between the
ages of 4 and 9 in attendance was scheduled to enable the children
participate in the 8th Annual International Peace Pals
Art Competition and Exhibition announced by Peace Pals of the
World Peace Prayer Society.
On September 21, 2005 AFCODE took another step by dedicating a Peace Pole and
celebrating the International Day for Peace 2005 at the campus of
Royal Field School, Olambe Village one of the boundary villages between
Lagos State and Ogun State.
Despite
the heavy rainfall, some of the students and a few parents were able
to meet the 12.noon time scheduled for the event. AFCODE’s coordinator
Mr. Olaitan Ibiyemi welcomed the students to the International Day
for Peace and Dedication of Peace Pole. After giving a brief talk
on the significance of the event, Mr. Ibiyemi called for the need
to promote peace in our immediate environment and the need for children
to be tolerant of one another.
He
stated that the decision to bring a Peace Pole to the school was as
a symbol of his group’s commitment to peace making, peace building,
promotion of culture of non-violence and of the desire to see peace
world wide. Two of the junior students of the school prayed for peace
in places within Nigeria where there are communal and religious crises.
They equally prayed for peace in families.
The climax of the event was the presentation of a four-sided desktop Peace Pole
to the School’s Proprietor Mr. Otunla and the students numbering about
30 present, after explaining the history and origin of the Peace Pole
Project. The Peace Pole has the peace message May Peace Prevail on
Earth written in English language, Yoruba language (the community’s
local dialect) French language and Italian language.
Responding, Mr. Otunla, the Proprietor of Royal Field School, affirmed the commitment
of the school towards promoting tolerance among students. He stated
that the school will henceforth ensure that the school is one of the
Bullying-Free Zones in the state.
To round up the activities marking the 2005 International Day for Peace and
Dedication of Peace Pole, group photographs were taken and light refreshments
were provided for the children.
Report written by:
Olaitan Ibiyemi (Peace Pal Coordinator) WPPS
Agenda for Community Development–AFCODE
Lagos State, Nigeria
2005
World Peace Prayer Society Compilation
PICTORAL
ARCHIVE OF PREVIOUS PEACE DAY EVENTS
May
Peace Prevail
On Earth
