Abuja, Nigeria - The Nigeria chapter of the Universal Peace Federation has launched a special initiative to connect Nigerians around the world to ongoing efforts to build a peaceful Nigeria nation by the year 2020. In response to the increasing violence and insecurity in Nigeria, UPF-Nigeria launched the special initiative to connect Nigerians in diaspora to peace initiatives in Nigeria. The launch took place in Abuja on April 30, 2014 in a special dinner for peace held at the Peace Embassy.
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The launch featured the commissioning of Babatunde Lawal Abbas, a Nigerian based in Japan, as a Nigerian Ambassador for Peace in Japan with the mandate to use his new calling to reach out to the Nigerian community in Japan and identify people who can be commissioned as Ambassadors for Peace to work to support the UPF in Japan as well as peace initiatives in Nigeria.
The event was graced by four Japanese volunteers who have been working with the Nigeria chapter of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification and the Universal Peace Federation in Abuja. The program featured a special musical entertainment by Mrs. Takako Alao, a Japanese married to a Nigerian, with congratulatory messages by Rev George Ogurie, Rotarian Olaleye Alao, and Dr. George C. Ikpot. They commended the dedication of Babatunde Lawal Abbas and his keen interest to serve his country.
At the award presentation ceremony, Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko, Secretary General of UPF-Nigeria, described the Nigerian Ambassadors for Peace in Diaspora initiative and called on Nigerians in Diaspora to join in addressing the challenges that Nigeria is facing. "We are hopeful that more Nigerians in diaspora will embrace this initiative both to serve as Ambassadors for Peace in their country of residence and to support efforts in their country of birth. This initiative seeks to connect Nigerians in diaspora to peacebuilding efforts in Nigeria. We have a huge community of Nigerians in every country in the world. We need innovative strategies to engage them positively in contributing to the task of rebuilding our nation."
The Nigerian Ambassadors for Peace in Diaspora initiative began with the commissioning of four Nigerians in diaspora during the special commemorative conference to mark Nigeria's 100th anniversary of national amalgamation. During the event, two Nigerians in Ireland and a Nigerian in the USA with another in the UK were commissioned as Ambassadors for Peace. Robert Okere and Vicky Robert Okere are very enterprising Nigerians based in Ireland, while Sunday Omagu Ogar, based in the USA and Paulina Morphy Fogg, based in Manchester- UK were also inducted. With the formal launch of the initiative at the Peace Embassy in Abuja, a movement has begun to reach out to Nigerians all over the world and mobilize them to support peace building efforts in Nigeria.
Other Nigerians in diaspora can join this growing initiative by contacting UPF Nigeria via
To read a report by a Nigerian journalist on UPF-Nigeria's Diaspora Initiative, click here.