As Nigeria joined the global community in celebrating the 2024 International Day of Peace, advocates for peace have called for the creation of a peaceful environment to help unlock the potential of young people and empower them for leadership roles. This message was delivered during a roundtable discussion held in Abuja, themed *”Cultivating a Culture of Peace: The Role of Youth in Promoting Ethical Leadership and Peace in Nigeria.”*
The event highlighted the significance of fostering peace not only as the absence of conflict but as a foundation for achieving harmony within and among nations.
Key speakers, including Andray Abrahamian, a representative from the US Embassy, and Reverend John Hayab of the Global Peace Foundation, stressed the importance of building systems that enable young people to thrive in peaceful environments. They emphasized that for youth to assume leadership and contribute meaningfully to society, they must be nurtured in an atmosphere of peace.
During the panel discussion, Reverend Sam Oye of Transforming Church International, Rafiu Lawal of the Building Blocks for Peace Foundation, and Dr. Abdulfattah Adeyemi of the Baynaku Family Counselling Centre, underscored the need for inclusive leadership to ensure sustainable peace. They also highlighted the importance of incorporating youth voices into peace-building efforts and addressing both opportunities and challenges faced by the younger generation.
The roundtable, organized by the American Center Abuja in collaboration with the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria, was an interactive event where participants had the chance to share their perspectives and contribute to the discussion on peace and youth empowerment in Nigeria.
