Actionaid, GPD Unite Kaduna Communities With Peace Fiesta
http://www.newsportng.com.ng Kaduna – ActionAid Nigeria through the System and Structure Strengthening Approach against Radicalization to Violent Extremism (SARVE III) project in partnership with Global Peace Development (GPD) has organized Peace Fiesta, to commemorate the 2024 International Day of Peace in Kaduna state.
The program, is in collaboration between AAN, GPD and the Kaduna state Ministry for Culture and Tourism, supported by the Global Community Engagement Resilience Fund (GCERF), aimed to counter violent extremism by celebrating diversity and talent, in a bid to foster peaceful coexistence among Kaduna residents.
Speaking at the event, in Kaduna on Tuesday, the Executive Director, GPD Mr. Ebruke Esike, emphasized the importance of collective efforts in promoting peace.
He disclosed that the event, is in commemoration of the annual 2024 International Day of Peace, with the theme, “Cultivating a culture of Peace.”
Esike noted that the theme of 2024 International Day of Peace, requires empathy, understanding, and collective action, stressing that, “cultivating the culture of peace, cannot happen without tolerance, love, resilience, harmony and understanding of another person’s perception.”
He stressed that, “we must all work together to make sure that the peace is stable. Peace cannot happen when we do not construct our minds to respect and work with the other and ensure that there is peace in everyone’s environment.
“Ultimately communal agencies cannot work unless collaboration is. So if we must cultivate the culture of peace there must be strong education which we are doing with our peace clubs, community agencies, dialogue forum, theater, dances and even the kick for peace football held on Monday are all elements we use informally and formally to make sure that the state is stable and Secure a peaceful environment for ourselves in Kaduna state.”
Also speaking, SARVE III program Coordinator, AAN Aliyu Adamu, noted that the peace fiesta was designed to promote social cohesion by bringing different ethnic groups and religions together.
Adamu said, “We have different forums where we celebrate the International Peace Day, but here we are using the peace fiesta to celebrate the culture which is the identity, the way of people’s lives and we want to use that forum to see how we can promote social cohesion.
“By bringing different ethnic groups, religions from our community interventions in Kaduna state to come together and showcase their diversity and talent as an act of exhibition to celebrate themselves as a people so as they can breed peace in Kaduna state.
“The cultural peace fiesta here is a kind of dancing. We want to see how different ethnic groups come together dance celebrate their identity, culture and this is done with the collaboration of the ministry of human services and social development from the ministry of history and culture where we are collaborating with them to see how we can have an effective and success cultural celebration.
“By celebrating our diversity and talent, we can build bridges of understanding and foster peace. The fiesta featured various activities, including peace clubs, community agencies, dialogue forums, theatre and dance performances, and the Kick for Peace Football tournament.”
In a goodwill message, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, Mrs. Dorcas Inti Benjamin Tanko, representing the Honourable Commissioner, Hajia Rabi Salisu, commended the organisers for their efforts in ensuring that peace thrives in Kaduna state.
She remarked that “Cultivating a culture of peace requires collective action, mutual respect, and tolerance, while quoting Martin Luther King Jr., saying “Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”
She urged participants to strive for peace, justice, equity, and compassion, while assuring their peace partners of government commitment to foster peaceful coexistience among residents of Kaduna state.
The event among other activities, featured cultural display from different Communities with Kujama wining the 2024 competition with 73.3% ahead of second position’s Takau community at 72%. Damishi Community also came third with an average of 68%.
Others who participated in the cultural dance are: Likoro, Gumel, Kachia, Ungwan Masara, Wusasa and Turunku communities.
Actionaid, GPD Unite Kaduna Communities With Peace Fiesta
