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UPF-Nigeria Invited to Ile-Ife Peace Ceremony
Written by Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko, secretary general, UPF-Nigeria
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Ile-Ife, Nigeria—UPF-Nigeria was invited to participate in the reconciliation ceremony for the Yoruba and Hausa peoples in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The ceremony took place during the Ile-Ife Peace Concert held on May 6, 2017, at the palace of the respected first-class traditional ruler, the Ooni of Ife.
The concert featured dances and songs by musical artists, speeches by distinguished personalities and other entertainment for the resolution of the dispute that had engulfed their communities.
The crisis began with a disagreement between a Hausa man and a Yoruba woman. As it escalated, it led to the loss of lives and properties worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Following the intervention of the government and other critical stakeholders from different parts of Nigeria, the unfortunate crisis was resolved.
The ceremony to celebrate the return of peace was organized by the In House Entertainment in collaboration with the House of Oduduwa.
UPF-Nigeria used the opportunity to give a presentation on the UPF Peace Principles and the works of the UPF founders. UPF then presented peace awards to some outstanding Nigerians who had contributed to resolving the crisis, which had the potential to become a nationwide conflict between the ethnic groups of Yoruba and Hausa.
Facilitated by Ambassador Vickie Roberts, a UPF-Nigeria Ambassador for Peace in Diaspora (United Kingdom), the Peace Concert was held at the palace of His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife.
At the concert, UPF presented the Peace Loving Global Citizen Award to His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, and to His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Ambassador for Peace certificates were awarded to other distinguished Nigerians who had contributed to resolving the recent crisis in Ile-Ife.
UPF-Nigeria Secretary General Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko spoke to the hundreds of participants on the need to live in peace. Describing the work of UPF around the world, Dr. Oko emphasized the need to move from a focus on a culture of peace to communities of peace. He explained the UPF founders’ call for the realization of a unified global peace kingdom and urged the Ooni of Ife to support the UPF efforts to make the Ife Kingdom a model of a peace kingdom in Nigeria.
In his response, His Imperial Majesty, surrounded by his council of chiefs and elders, promised to make the Ife Kingdom become the first peace kingdom in Nigeria and expressed his gratitude to “Father and Mother Moon” for initiating this great organization.
An Ambassador for Peace, Professor Amos Omoloye of the University of Ibadan, and his wife made the award presentations on behalf of UPF, supported by Ambassador Vickie Roberts and the UPF-Nigeria secretary general.
Others who contributed to the conflict resolution process and were appointed as Ambassadors for Peace were:
- Olori Wuraola-Zynab Otiti Ogunwusi, wife of the Ooni of Ife
- Senator (Dr.) Iyiola Omisore, Commander in the Order of the Niger
- Professor Emeritus Dibu Ojerinde
- Sooko (Dr.) Kemade Elugbaju
- Mr. Ayo George
- Mr. Temidayo Taiwo
- Mr. Adedayo Oyegbola
- Alhaji Mahmud Madagali (Sherik Hausa Ile-Ife)
- Alhaji Abubakre Akeem
- Prince (Dr.) Ramon Adegoke Adedoyin, chancellor, Oduduwa University Ile-Ife; provost of the Polytechnic Ile-Ife
- Mrs. Romoke Ayinde
- Mrs. Elizabeth Ngozi Ehigiamusoe
- Adedoyin, Adeyinka Oluwaseun
- Ngozi Chinwa Ole
- Ukeki Thompson
The Ile-Ife Peace Concert organizers have promised to work closely with UPF-Nigeria to ensure its presence in Osun State as well as at the 2018 peace concert.
Photos from the event are available online via this link: https://goo.gl/photos/Bi3knUFvRNKBEi6u5
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