Abuja, Nigeria—Nigerian Ambassadors for Peace celebrated the fifth anniversary of the UPF founders’ historic visit to their nation.
The special Dinner for Peace, held on July 15, 2016, at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja hotel in the capital’s Maitama District, commemorated the 2011 visit of Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and his wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. During that visit the founders had a meeting with then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
UPF-Nigeria organized the Dinner for Peace together with the Nigerian chapters of two affiliated organizations, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) and the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP).
During the dinner UPF-Nigeria’s new national chair, former Senate Deputy President Ibrahim Mantu, and vice chair, Chief Dubem Onyia, the former minister of state for foreign affairs, were formally presented with certificates of recognition.
It was also an opportunity for Ambassadors for Peace to plan for the future, especially accomplishing the UPF Peace Vision 2020. In particular, the discussion focused on the regional International Leadership Conference that was held in Burkina Faso in August 2016, which featured the launch of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace for West Africa.
A very select group of high-level VIPs were in attendance, as well as UPF-Africa Regional Chair Mrs. Kathy Rigney, Special Envoy to Nigeria Rev. Shang Seon Park and Ambassadors for Peace. The presence of so many high-level VIPs helped ensure the dinner’s success.
FFWPU-Nigeria President Rev. George Marcus Ogurie, acting as master of ceremonies, began the event with special recognitions and greetings. A choir of young adults sang the national anthem of Nigeria, and then Mr. Akachukwu Nwankwo, a former special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, offered the opening prayer, dedicating the event to God and praying for its success and for the well-being of the nation.
In his welcoming remarks UPF-Nigeria Secretary General Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko expressed appreciation to the UPF founders for their lifelong commitment to peace, which has inspired people all over the world. He also thanked Mrs. Rigney for her sacrifice and dedication to making Nigeria great through more than 40 years of service for peace in Africa.
Watching a video documentary of the life and activities of the UPF founders, the participants were inspired by the diversity of their activities and applauded them for their accomplishments for peace and development.
The keynote address given by Mrs. Rigney was titled “A New Beginning: UPF-Nigeria.” It was an inspiring speech that moved the hearts of the participants and deepened their understanding of the event.
She began with these words: “I thank God for a day like this that we can sit together to share a meal as a family – for we are indeed a family, One Family under God. But more importantly, it is a chance for us to make a new resolve to fulfill our calling as Ambassadors for Peace. …
“Today, July 15, is a special day in the history of Nigeria. … It was today in 2011 that our founders, the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, arrived in Nigeria and went straight to meet with then-President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House. That meeting was a very historic one in the sense that it was to be the last meeting that our founder would have with a sitting head of government of a country before he passed in 2012.”
On the main issue of the day, Mrs. Rigney said: “We have come to the point in the progress of our work in Nigeria whereby it is imperative that we have an active national chair of UPF-Nigeria. This would be a person who understands and appreciates the founding vision of UPF and possesses the passion and zeal to project that vision in concrete terms to the nation.”
This led to the presentation of certificates of appointment as national chair and national vice chair to Senator Ibrahim Mantu and Hon. Dubem Onyia, respectively. The participants applauded them for their new responsibilities and congratulated them warmly.
Senator Mantu thanked UPF and spoke passionately about Father and Mother Moon, as he frequently called the UPF founders. He described his personal experiences with the founders and explained how they positively impacted him and the world. He stated that he treasured his appointment as UPF-Nigeria national chair more than any other appointment he has ever held in his life. He promised to bring his experience to work for UPF in Nigeria and ensure that Nigeria fulfills the Peace Vision 2020.
In his acceptance speech, Senator Mantu said: “I am a politician, as everyone knows. But of late I’ve found myself speaking out on the need for politicians to become ‘born again.’ We cannot continue on the same path as before. … Leaders who engage in corrupt practices do not have the fear of God in them. They do not really love their people. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, it is said. True love for humanity will make one live for others. This is why the fundamental teaching of Father and Mother Moon of universal peace must be embraced and practiced by all good leaders who really want to lead their people to prosperity. …
“As a politician, I am used to campaigning for positions. But this is one position I never campaigned for. I firmly believe that this has come to me as a calling from the Almighty God. I therefore resolve to answer this call with the highest sense of responsibility.”
Some distinguished Nigerians were appointed as Ambassadors for Peace at the event: His Lordship, Hon Justice B.A. Adejumo, president, National Industrial Court of Nigeria; Sen. Hope Uzodinma and Sen. Murtala Nyako of the National Assembly of Nigeria; and Cheick Harouna Sankare, mayor of Ouenkoro, Mopti, Mali.
Congratulatory remarks were offered by Engr. Mohammed Abagana, former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and Princess Moradeun Ogunlana, Nigerian Ambassador for Peace in Diaspora (USA), as well as the representative of the deputy governor of Imo State.
Other participants included Her Excellency Aisha Emeje-Audu, wife of the former governor of Kogi State; Professor Chimele Abengowe, consultant cardiologist with the State House Clinic, Abuja; Mrs. Mary Aibangbe, national president, Women in Colleges of Education; Sen. Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi, National Assembly, Abuja; Ambassador Mrs. Mary Sawa, provost, Federal College of Education, Yola, Adamawa State; HRH Alhaji Dr. Shaban Audu Nizazo III, Etsu of Kwali, Abuja; as well as Princess Moradeun Ogunlana, coordinator of Nigerian Ambassadors for Peace in Diaspora (USA); Hon. Bassey Etim and Ambassador Mrs. Grace Kazalma-Mantey, among other leading Ambassadors for Peace.
The closing benediction was given by Rev. Shang Seon Park, special envoy to Nigeria. The event ended with distinguished Ambassadors for Peace pledging to do more for the sake of world peace and unification and to keep alive the legacies of Father Moon as well as support the outstanding leadership of Mother Moon and UPF.