Global Peace Day: Agediga, stakeholders preach tolerance, peace building

•Say racism destroying the global peace effort

A foremost philanthropist, Amb. Dr. Comr. Shedrack Agediga, Chairman of the Shedrack Agediga Foundation (SAF) who doubled as the Executive Director (ED), Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), and stakeholders in Nigeria have preached against racism and ethnic intolerance in ensuring global peace.

The peace expert remarked yesterday at the Canewood event Center in Warri, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State while the Shedrack Agediga Foundation was commemorating the 2022 International Peace day.

Speaking at the well-attended event, Agediga said: “Although the global theme for the 2022 International Peace Day was tagged “End Racism, Build Peace “the Shedrack Agediga Foundation had to rephrase the theme: “End Ethnic Intolerance, Build Peace.”

This according to him was to suit local needs, adding that as Niger Deltans and Deltans, one needs not be told the peculiarity of the theme which is ethnic tolerance and peacebuilding.

“Let me start with a thank you note to express my deepest appreciation to everyone for availing us of your esteem presence despite your huge daily personal and official engagements.

“The International day of peace is a day set aside by the United Nations to be observed across the globe on the 21st of September every year. It is a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace through education and public awareness. The theme of this year’s event is End Racism, Build Peace.

“The Shedrack Agediga Foundation has consistently since 2016 joined the global community to celebrate every year through conferences, seminars, and peace walks to educate and create public awareness on the need for a peaceful society with shared values.

“This year, the Foundation has thoughtfully marshaled out a sub-theme relevant to local needs titled; End Ethnic Intolerance, Build Peace. Achieving peace involves more than laying down arms. It requires building societies where everyone feels a part of and has a level playing ground to flourish. It requires a society in which people are treated equally and without fear of possible violence against them regardless of their ethnicity. Ethnic intolerance destabilizes societies and hampers growth and development; this we have seen firsthand as Nigerians and particularly as Deltans.

“As violence and conflict across the globe erupts, within our local context, we have seen ethnic intolerance as a catalyst to conflict and violence. To mitigate violent conflicts amongst and between ethnic groups in Delta state and Nigeria, We all have a role to play, and tackling ethnic intolerance is a crucial way to contribute to world peace.

“To do justice to this theme is our guest speaker and erudite scholar; prof. Atari Andy Otite. A professor of Development and Gender Studies from Delta State University, Abraka.

“I enjoin everyone to sit tight and pay rapt attention, as we collectively open our minds to the pathways to end ethnic intolerance and build peace,” he
added.