By Sunday Isuwa, Abuja
Global Peace Foundation Nigeria has joined other world peacebuilders to sign the Delhi Peace Agreement which is aimed at mitigating identity-based violence.
It was gathered that countries, especially in Africa were advised to adopt the Nigerian model of mitigating the identity-based violence under its “One Family Under God” campaign.
Speaking on the significance of the Delhi Peace Agreement and the participation of the Nigerian office, the Country Director,
Global Peace Foundation Nigeria, Rev John Joseph Hayab said the campaign has been successful in the country adding that other African countries where advise to adopt the Nigerian model of tackling identity-based violence.
“The peace module which is modeled on the One Family under God campaign, which the Nigeria GPF affiliate office has been championing, seeks to mitigate any identity-based violence and make the world a peaceful place for everybody,” Hayab said.
The Delhi Peace Agreement had delegates from around the globe who gathered to discuss innovative ways to foster peace and tackle identity-based violence.
The Global Peace Leadership Conference Indo-Pacific 2023 (GPLC 2023) brought more than 1000 students, ambassadors, and peacebuilders both virtually and in-person to the Le Meridien and Royal Plaza Hotels, New Delhi, India on April 11-13, 2023 which had Nigerian representatives.
The theme for the conference was Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: Vision for Advancing Human Consciousness and Peace.
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is a goal but our process has four ingredients, 1. Youth involvement, build youth, build the nation. 2. Value education. Education is the key to solving most global problems, knowledge can be the connection. 3. Values-Based Peacebuilding. Peace is within us. How to become peaceful, build yourself, love, and provide service to others, 4. Environmental conservation. Be friendly to the earth, do not be the enemy because nature has tremendous power, we will not be sustained without the earth, said Dr Markanday Rai, Chairman of Global Peace Foundation India.
“These four ingredients,” Rai said, will go towards advancing human consciousness and peace.
President of the Global Peace Foundation, Mr. James P. Flynn, who emphasized the need for bold and collaborative efforts that transcend artificial boundaries as people strive toward a future that lies beyond them, added that the world will be a better place if identity-based conflict is tackled.
Also in his part, one of the speakers at the event, Dr Vikarant Tomar, emphasized the importance of cherishing human similarities rather than fixating on differences.