FOLLOW US
Nigerian Colleges of Education Observe International Day of Peace
Written by Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko, secretary general, UPF-Nigeria
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Abuja, Nigeria—The 2016 International Day of Peace was commemorated in over 20 colleges of education in Nigeria.
The commemoration provided an opportunity for the College Ambassadors for Peace to lead several initiatives for peace as part of the partnership between UPF-Nigeria and the national association Women in Colleges of Education.
In almost all the colleges of education where peace clubs have been established, the commemoration featured the reading of the UPF International statement on the 2016 International Day of Peace as well as the official message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Participants supported the need for the introduction of peace education as a course of study in the national curriculum of colleges of education and called on all teachers to become educators for peace.
Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau, Zamfara State
At the Federal College of Education in the city of Gusau, the College Ambassadors for Peace, under the leadership of Binta Lami Hassan, commemorated the International Day of Peace with office-to-office sensitization visits in which members of the college community were enlightened on the importance of the day and the need for all to embrace peace. The team visited and delivered the message of peace to the deputy provost, in the absence of the provost, who offered support and encouraging promises for more assistance in carrying out peace club activities in the future, especially at the 2017 International Day of Peace.
There was also an open sensitization lecture in which the UN secretary-general's and the UPF International statements were read. Some members of the college management who attended the program were the dean of the school of vocational education, Mr. Wisdom Ebong; Dr. Umar Bello, former dean of the school of languages; Mrs. Munirat Abdurrahman, director of the Home Economics department; and Madam Angela Okafor, chair of the college’s chapter of Women in Colleges of Education, among others. All the invited guests contributed peace messages to the students. It was resolved that a formal launch of the college’s peace club would be held soon.
Federal College of Education (Technical), Abeokuta, Ogun State
At the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, the International Day of Peace was commemorated with Peace Day awareness activities and a special Soccer for Peace event. College Ambassadors for Peace Ajala Modupe F. and Adebayo Roseline organized the commemoration with multiple banners and flyers with Peace Day inscriptions that were distributed to principal officers and the dean of student affairs to draw the attention of the college management to the need to commemorate the day as well as to include peace education in the college curriculum. A novelty football match for peace was played between the College Registry unit staff and other staff of the college.
College of Education (Technical), Kabba, Kogi State
The College Ambassadors for Peace printed and distributed the UN secretary-general’s message and the UPF International statement to members of the college community. A special Peace Day visit to the patron and matron of the peace club was also part of the activities. Lecturers were encouraged to write some scholarly essays on the topic of peace and read them to their students. Young children also were encouraged to support the day by spreading the message of peace. As part of strategies to use technology to promote peace, peace messages were sent to members of the college community via text messages and the messaging application WhatsApp to commemorate the day.
Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, Gombe State
The College Ambassadors for Peace in the Federal College of Education in Gombe were able to secure approval from the management of the college for the establishment of a peace club on campus. The college celebrated the International Day of Peace by approving the request to establish a peace club.
Benue State College of Education, Oju, Benue State
At the Benue State College of Education in Oju, Mrs. Bridget Agada coordinated efforts with two other College Ambassadors for Peace to organize a collaborative event between UPF and Women in Colleges of Education to mark the UN International Day of Peace. The theme of their event was “Give Peace a Chance.” Students from primary schools were mobilized to march for peace in the college as well as distribute to members of the college community the messages of peace with a call to “give peace a chance” and “live in peace” with one another. The provost of the college, Chief Ambassador Godwin Egena Oga, read a proclamation recognizing September 21 as UN International Day of Peace in the college.
College of Education, Akwanga, Nasarawa State
At the College of Education in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, the College Ambassadors for Peace organized a special commemorative seminar with more than 200 students in attendance. Participants discussed the theme of the 2016 International Day of Peace (“The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace”) and reflected on the official messages by the UN secretary-general and UPF International. It was the first time that such an event was held at the college through the collaborative efforts of UPF-Nigeria and Women in Colleges of Education, which also led to the establishment of a peace club in the college. Participants called on the government to include peace education in the curriculum of colleges of education and to devote resources to the training of peace educators for families, schools and communities, if Nigeria hopes to become a peaceful nation.
Federal College of Education, Obudu, Cross River State
The provost of the Federal College of Education in Obudu, Cross River State, formally presented an approval letter for the establishment of a peace club in the college. The College Ambassadors for Peace, Margaret Uzor and Zainab Salami, organized a special event including a Walk for Peace on the Obudu streets and a discussion at the college on issues of peace. The message of the UN secretary-general and UPF statement on 2016 International Day of Peace were read aloud.
College of Education, Gidan-waya, Kafanchan, Kaduna State
At the College of Education, Gidan-waya, Kafanchan, the College Ambassadors for Peace focused on mobilizing other women educators in the college to join the Universal Peace Federation in order to create a UPF campus chapter in addition to the college’s peace club. The program of activities began on September 29 and ended on October 6 with the registration of several Women in Colleges of Education members who signed up to become UPF members.
Proclamations for International Day of Peace 2016
Some of the provosts of the colleges of education had responded earlier to UPF-Nigeria’s request. They issued proclamations recognizing September 21 as International Day of Peace and urging the college community members to commemorate the day accordingly. The “Proclamations for Peace Day” was an initiative to increase awareness about the United Nations International Day of Peace as well as facilitate participation and observances across the nation.
Proclamations were received from Chief Ambassador Ogar Godwin Egena, provost of the College of Education in Oju; Dr. Mrs. Bolatitu Adeniji, acting provost of the Federal College of Education in Abeokuta; Dr. Blessing Ijeoma, provost of Alvan Ikoku College of Education in Owerri, Imo State; and Dr. Joseph Ukadike, the provost of the College of Education in Agbor, Delta State.
In general, International Day of Peace was commemorated in colleges of education in Nigeria as part of UPF-Nigeria’s strategic plans to renew the national curriculum of education and to empower teachers as critical peace educators and peacebuilders. UPF-Nigeria is hopeful that its partnership with the Women in Colleges of Education, approved by the National Commission for Colleges of Education, shall grow into the offering of peace education courses in the colleges as well as the establishment of the Universal Peace College of Education in Nigeria, among others.
Online photos from some of the colleges of education can be viewed through this link: https://goo.gl/photos/7VB1AG7tXnyS35aGA
If you find this page helpful and informative please consider making donation. Your donation will help Universal Peace Federation (UPF) provide new and improved reports, analysis and publications to you and everyone around the world.
UPF is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and all donations are tax deductible in the United States. Receipts are automatically provided for donations of or above $250.00.
|
Donate to the Universal Peace Federation: Your donation to support the general programs of UPF. |
Donate to the Religious Youth Service (RYS): Your donation will be used for service projects around the world. |
Donate to UPF's Africa Projects: Your donation will be used for projects in Africa. |