By Amos Tauna :-
The Global Peace Foundation is appealing to Nigerians and Africans in general to redouble their efforts in building peace and transforming education amidst the covid-19 pandemic.
To this end, it is partnering with Standard Media Group to organise a 2-day virtual brain storming conference tagged “Global Leadership Conference 2020”, scheduled to begin on July 30th – 31st , 2020.
The Non-Governmental Organisation noted that that the COVID-19 posed a new challenge to the global community in many areas, but most importantly, the challenges the world is facing is the maintenance of peace while peace workers are also faced with how to continue with dialogue as it is no longer safe for physical meetings with people of diverse opinions in the same room.
It is in view of this, GPF is organizing Global Peace Foundation, in partnership with Standard Media Group on a virtual conference tagged “Global Peace Leadership Conference 2020”, known as the Global Peace Leadership Conference, GPLC, from July 30th – 31st, 2020.
The 2-day conference will bring together over 1,000 multi-sector participants including peace practitioners and experts, educators, religious leaders, civil society leaders, governmental stakeholders, NGOs, school administrators, and media representatives from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, USA, UK, and other countries to share best practices and lessons learned.
Global Peace Leadership Conference is strategic, multi-sector convenings that build consensus towards pressing regional challenges using an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding.
This year, the conference tracks will draw on the expertise of diverse speakers and attendees to discuss solutions for transforming education and promoting sustainable peace throughout Africa, stressing that the conference, amongst other things discuss on “Transforming Education and Peacebuilding”.
A statement from GPFN Country Director, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, observed that peace workers must therefore find new ways of preaching and promoting peace in conflict areas.
The statement noted that Schools in many countries in the world are still under lockdown both in primary, Secondary and tertiary institutions, adding, “Our Children have been staying at home for about five months now and only few can access internet to learn.”
It added, “We in Africa and the global community need to find a suitable way to transform our education for the good of our children and future generations.”
Global Peace, according to the statement is therefore organizing this virtual conference for Global stakeholders and experts on Peace Practice and Education to brainstorm and recommend workable solutions to peace and education delivery in this pandemic
The Country Director of Global Peace Foundation Nigeria, Rev John Joseph Hayab, according to the statement would lead Dr Willi Eselebor from Institute for Peace and Security Studies, University of Ibadan and the past President, Society for Peace Practitioners in Nigeria; Hajia Amina Kazaure, General Coordinator, Women Interfaith Council; Sheik Halliru Abdulahi Maraya, Northern Coordinator, Global Peace Foundation Nigeria and Mr Micheal Magaji the vice President General of Unity school of Nigeria Alumni to sell the Nigeria experience to the world and also add the Nigeria voice in the discuss.
It explained that there is no better time than now for everyone to contribute his quarter in the promotion of peace and education in our country and our continent.
“We must make use of the time to see and take advantage of the opportunities that are in this pandemic than dwelling only on the challenges,” the statement explained.
Global Peace Foundation Nigeria therefore is making the virtual conference free as many persons all over Nigeria and across Africa can register and participate to help in fashioning ways for transformation of the education sector and building a sustainable peace during and after the pandemic
