by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Women Mediators in Plateau State, trained by CLEEN Foundation, with support from Norwegian Embassy and UN Women and HeforShe had their International Peace Day celebration with a walk from the State Secretariat Roundabout down to Hill Station Junction (NUJ) Press Center Jos recently.
Speaking shortly after the walk, Chairman Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Mrs Nene Dung, who is also from Women Peace and Security Media Network, said they were using the opportunity to mark the International Day of Peace.
According to her, “Here today are the UN Women WPS structures, made up of the WPS Media Network, the HeForShe Network, and the Women Mediators Network.
“The reason for organizing this day is to join the rest of the world in marking the Day of Peace. Without peace, no meaningful development can be achieved.”
She stressed that, “Plateau State has suffered in the past years with crises in different local governments areas. That is why we have come together under the umbrella of ‘UN Women’ to mark this day and tell the people of Plateau that nothing can be achieved without peace.
“The theme for this year’s celebration is: ‘Cultivating a Culture of Peace.’ We must live together as brothers and sisters. We must do away with mutual suspicion. We must learn to be our brother’s keepers because without peace, there will be no Plateau State,” she stated.
“Do we have any other state to go back to? No; we don’t have to. We don’t have any other state to go back to. We don’t have any other state to call our own except Plateau,” she retorted.
She called on everyone living in Plateau State –“whether you are from Plateau State or not. As long as you are a resident in Plateau State, you must work towards its peace. Only when there is peace in the State can the government deliver the dividends of democracy. So, let’s join hands together to work for peace and ensure that peace reigns.”
Also, the leader of Women Mediators in the State, Mrs Grace Gora, noted that, “No woman, no peace; no woman, no nation. So, you, me, your neighbors – everywhere – it’s all about peace.”
She urged that, “Wherever you are, you know what the meaning of culture is; it is something that guides you. So, peace should guide our utterances; peace should guide our steps and peace should guide everything we do. It doesn’t matter what your religion, tribe, or ethnicity is.
“So, let us speak the language of peace. When we need development, we need peace. If you need progress, we need peace. Without peace, we cannot even make this march that we did today.
“Therefore, as we observe this International Peace Day, we pray that peace may reign in our state. May peace reign in our country. May peace reign in our hearts. May peace reign in our families,” she noted.
“So, wherever you find yourself, make sure you promote peace around you. Because, if you are not peace yourself, what do you expect your neighbor to be? Since we are preaching peace, let us be peace wherever we are.
“Let it be known that, anywhere you are found – whether in church, in a mosque, in your area, or in your family – they should know that you are the one carrying peace. If they are looking for peace, they should look for you and me. Let us remember that peace is our culture, and let us maintain it in our hearts,” Grace Gora stated.
The State Women Mediators appreciated the United Nations Women, the Norwegian Embassy, the CLEEN Foundation, HeForShe, Women Peace Mentors, and the Media Network.
Also, the Coordinator for HeforShe for Peace in the state, Gyang Dudu Dalyop, is one of the arm of the United Nations Women Project on the state that includes the Women Mentors and the Media Network, noted thus: “So, we are part of the HeForShe initiative.”