Stakeholders Dialogue on Peace-building at UFUK Conference

Bennett  Oghifo

Stakeholders at the 8th International Conference on Love and Tolerance, organised by UFUK Dialogue and partners, deliberated on peace-building for a harmonious society.

Members of the discussant Panel at the 2025 International Conference on Love and Tolerance, with the theme: “Empoweering Youth: Cultivating a Culture of Peace and Understanding”, moderated by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Muhammadu Buhari, unanimously advocated for peace education in Nigerian Schools.

Adesina, in his remarks, stated that Nigeria needs love and tolerance. He asserted that what is behind the malaise in our country is intolerance. According to him, “if the youth can imbibe love and tolerance, we have got our country.”

The Keynote speaker, Prof. Gerald Grudzen, from California, U.S.A Coordinator of the peace program in Kenya, recommended the Kenyan template for Nigeria.

According to Grudzen, “we designed a training program in peace education; a program of peace clubs.”

Grudzen decreed that Al-Shabbab were shutting down schools, “but we told them to bring back the students, noting that students came back in trauma, they were traumatised.”

He continued; “we designed training, using arts, music and drama to enable the students to overcome their trauma.”

Grudzen emphasised the need to engage the youth in the Peace Corps, saying, youths can be trainers, themselves, training others; “but you have to bring them into the process” he added.

He pointed out that the world needs peace, but we have to involve the youth. Grudzen thus prescribed the following: train people in science and religion, develop scientific technological community ,incorporate ethics.

He postulated: “combine science and religion, and they will connect you to the rest of the world.

A lead discussant, Dr. Steve Oyinlola, in advocating youth empowerment through education, recommended the following: integrate peace education in schools curriculum, critical thinking, intuitive curriculum- thinking on the peace of the country, fostering community engagement, inter-faith dialogue, community service, cultural exchange program, and promote emotional intelligence.

Another panel discussant, Simon OludeleAjiboye of the institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, focusing on “Peace-building and Conflict Prevention” recommended setting of values, behaviors to prevent conflict in the society; mutual respect; tolerance; dialogue and exchange; empathy building; facilitate and support dignified livelihood; enhance the capacity of young ones; create space for the youths to engage in political processes.