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Universal Peace Federation has conferred on the African Union Development Agency and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) Nigeria Boss, Princess Gloria Akobundu as Ambassador for peace in recognition of her outstanding contributions to promoting peace and tolerance in the country.
The Secretary General of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), Dr. George Ikpot who led other members of the Organization in conferring the award on Hon. Princess Gloria Akobundu on Saturday 6th August in Abuja described the AUDA-NEPAD CEO as an embodiment of peace who had demonstrated her peaceful disposition through her work in the Agency and her lifestyle as a peacemaker and therefore deserves the coveted award.
He said consistent with the mission to establish world peace, the UPF acknowledges Ambassadors for peace as individuals whose lives exemplify the ideas of living for the sake of others, and who dedicate themselves to practices that promote universal moral values, strong family life, interreligious cooperation, international harmony, renewal of the United Nations, a responsible public media, and establishment of a culture of peace, transcending racial, national and religious barriers.
He further added that Ambassador for peace contribute to the fulfillment of the hope of all ages which is a unified world of peace wherein the spiritual and material dimension of life are harmonized, adding that Princess Gloria Akobundu perfectly fits into such description.
In her reaction, the NC/CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, Princess Gloria Akobundu, while thanking the organization for finding her worthy of the award, used the opportunity to call on Nigerians to embrace peace as they desire more development in the country particularly as the Nation prepares for the 2023 general elections.
In her words “there will be no development without peace, there will be no country without peace, conflict in any form is not a good thing, peace is very important to us, it is very important that we also have a peaceful election, to have a peaceful transition from one democratic government to another. it is really important for Nigeria, for our economy, for development, and for our young people. Peace is the best way to go.” Akobundu stressed.
Akobundu noted that the world is faced with the challenge of lack of peace and security and called on everyone to be an ambassador of Peace and to support any steps taken towards promoting and sustaining peace in the nation and the world at large.
Recalling some of the AUDA-NEPAD programmes and activities in an effort to promote peace and security in the country, Akobundu said the Agency had conducted several programmes such as the Zonal Sensitization exercise on peaceful elections across the six geo-political Zones of the Country. It had also organized several security summits under the AU Agenda “Silencing the Gun” to advocate for peace and security and had also organized several summits on the herders vs farmers crisis with a view to finding a lasting solution among others.
Akobundu hinted that AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria will continue to engage in activities that promote peace and security in the country and will soon embark on its election sensitization exercise across the country to promote peaceful elections. The AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria CEO said the world has lost a lot of human and natural resources as a result of a lack of peace. She, therefore, called for tolerance and understanding amongst Nigerians and people all over the world while describing peace as a key that opens doors to a lot of opportunities for Nations to thrive.
She identified lack of good governance, Climate Change, Youth restiveness, COVID-19 Pandemic, and lack of tolerance and understanding as part of factors that have contributed to the lack of peace in the world.
She said with the Ambassador of Peace award conferred on her, she will continue to champion any course that promotes peace and tolerance in the country and beyond.
The Federal High Commissioner for Refugees, Migrants, and IDPs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim who was among those who felicitated with the AUDA-NEPAD Boss said the award was well deserved. She recalled several peace initiatives of Princess Gloria Akobundu both at the local, national and international level as well as during her political sojourn, describing the award as a good reward for all her peace effort.
The Universal Peace Federation is an international and interreligious network of individuals and organizations, including representatives from religion, government, Civil Society, and the private sector. It is dedicated to achieving world peace. An NGO in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. UPF supports the work of the UN, particularly in the areas of interfaith peacebuilding, peace education, and the strengthening of marriage and family.