Nigerian youths urged to embrace peace

NIGERIAN youths have been told to embrace peace and shun violence as future leaders of the nation. They have also been advised to ask for major roles in the ongoing effort to rebuild Nigeria and Africa in general.

   Speaking at a seminar organised by Non-Violence for African Development (NOVAD) at Ogudu in Lagos, the convener, Deji Abodunde, described NOVAD as a platform for youths to make their voices heard.

   “We have discovered that the best way to make progress is to embrace non-violence and also as a forerunner to what we call non-violence communication, which we believe, if we employ, will bring development to Africa.

   “However, we have discovered that over 70 percent of electorates are made up of youths but after the election, the youths are not represented in governance. The future, they say, belongs to the youth and paradoxically; youths are not being made part of the future.

   “We are, therefore, trying to create a platform where youths can speak in unison with unified purpose and value such that we could be heard because as we all know, there is strength in number.

   “We are trying to realise the African dream and what we are doing today is also in a way, another milestone in the chronicles of African history. Our objective is a noble cause and we are going to make use of social media including twitter, facebook and every channel to inform people that there is a platform where we encourage non-violence in conflict resolution and management,” he said.

   According to Abodunde, Nigeria has not been moving forward because Nigerians have not discovered they have a common purpose as a light and restorer of hope for Africa.

   The group also frowned at the unpalatable situation in the northern part of the country, caused by Boko Haram insurgency. 

   “What is Shekau’s value proposition? Is the bloodshed necessary? Does Shekau think Africans are inferior to Arabs? What is Shekau’s aim? What is Shekau’s motivation? What is Boko Haram’s philosophy,” the group quizzed.