By Correspondent in Ilorin.
Dr Abiola Adimula, the Acting Director, Centre For Peace and Security Studies, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State has urged the Government at all levels to put necessary mechanisms in place to curb security threats that could aggravate violence during political campaigns.
The director made the call during the celebration of International Day of Peace with mentoring schools on Wednesday in Ilorin.
She stressed the need to curb security threats,in view of the fact that political campaign officially started in Nigeria towards the 2023 elections, which is coming in the midst of palpable insecurity in the country.
She appealed to the youth to shun every form of paid hooliganism and electoral crimes that could mar their future.
“They should desist from allowing political stalwarts whose children are studying and living peacefully in developed countries to use them as stepping stones to achieve their electoral desires.
“We can join hands to build Peace by ensuring inner peace in ourselves, train up our children to be peaceful and pursue peace, live peacefully with their neighbours and treat others as they want to be treated.
“Let us listen to others in patience to understand them, accept differences in opinion, do not fight violence with violence, desist from using vulgar language against another person among others,” she said.
Dr Adimula, who said this year topic centred on “Ending Racism and Building Peace,” observed that realisation of true peace would not be actualized if matters of racial discrimination are not considered and address.
The director added that peace is beyond laying down arms and cease-fire.
“True peace must also envisage a society free of racial and all forms of discrimination in all shades.
“We should shun all forms of discrimination at national borders, job employment, sports, politics and educational institutions discrimination matters.
“We should raise voices against hate speech, job employment, institutions and the society at large,” she added.
The Vice Chancellor, Al-Hikmah University, Prof. Noah Yusuf, while declaring the celebration open said that 16 secondary and primary schools were invited for the programme as part of the institution’s mentoring agenda.
He said that the mentoring of schools within its environment was part of the institution’s effort to catch them young and make the youth conscious of their role as peace agents in the society.
The VC said the essence of mentoring is novel being the first Islamic faith-based University in the country.
Prof. Yusuf the university intends to train more youths and teachers and prepare them for external examination and challenges of life.
According to him,Al-Hikmah University is not discriminatory in its admission and employment policy, saying that the programmes of the institution were aimed at equipping and empowering the youths with skill toward education delivery.
Our Correspondent reports that highpoint of the occasion include drama, symposium, poetry by students of the invited school and inauguration of peace club and awards to the students.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
