CITAD marks International Day of Peace

The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has observed this year’s International Day of Peace with an interactive lecture it organized today at NISTF Hall Kano in order to discuss and emphasize the significance of peace for societal development, tolerance and understanding among people, as well as point out how various actors can make tangible inputs for sustenance of peace.Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The day was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly and in 2001, the General Assembly voted to designate the day as a period of non-violence and ceasefire.

The event which had participants from Kano state Directorate of Youth Development, HISBAH Board, Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP), Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund, Kungiyar Gyra Kayanka, Kungiyar Daba Haram, Civil Societies Groups, Media and several other youth organizations deliberated on issues regarding peace and how people can maintain lasting peace by rendering their different individual contributions.

Three presentations were made on the following topics by different speakers: The Efforts of Kano State Government in Promoting Peace in the State, Importance of Peace in Community Development, How to Prevent Thug Activities in Kano State.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Senior Programmes Officer (Peace and Conflicts) at CITAD Malam Isah Garba traced the history of the International Day of Peace and why the day should be given the needed consideration especially at a time when Nigeria faces conflict challenge in the North East, “we should all work hard to build strong and permanent atmosphere for peace to reign, every individual is integral to peace building, therefore everyone should understand the importance of peace and work towards achieving it”. The world will not be a better place without peace, Isah Garba added.

In his presentation, representative of the Director General of Directorate of Youth Development, Economic Empowerment and NGOs Alhaji Habu Musa said Kano state has been empowering  youths with a view to reducing unemployment, part of which one hundred youths were sent to Kaduna to undergo training in automobile company on motor repair, panel beating and spraying, other 200 youths were trained in ICT, again the state has inaugurated national youth council in order to reduce drug abuse, theft and thuggery among the youths, the state has also collaborated with telecommunication companies to provide training to the growing number of youths in the state. According Habu Musa another effort to empower 5600 youths is underway, all in an effort engaging them and maintain peace.

The second presentation on the topic ‘The Importance of Peace in Community Development’ was made by Alhaji Adam Haruna Bayero of HISBAH Board, and it focused on five cardinal points which are soul, wealth, parenting and proper upbringing, sanity and respect, Bayero maintained that if these five points will be protected there will be lasting peace and mutual coexistence among people, and development will flourish. When there is peace there will be cooperation and sense of belonging among people while its absence may invite societal ills which hinder progress.

Aminu Buba Dibal of NSRP observed that a research carried out revealed that Nigeria is the only country in Africa that records high number of deaths as a result of conflicts even though the country is not in full fledge war like Somalia, and that informed the choice of Nigeria to implement the peace programme and Kano is one of the ten states selected. Peace is valuable but people do not recognize that until it vanishes. Everyone benefits from peace. The event ended with comments of the participants and closing remarks from the executive Director of CITAD who thanked the presenters and the participants for their vital inputs and being part of the 2016 global peace day celebration.