ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) through the System and Structure Strengthening Approach against Radicalization to Violent Extremism (SARVE III) project in partnership with Global Peace Development (GPD) has organized a peace fiesta.
The program held in Kaduna was aimed at countering violent extremism by celebrating diversity and talent, in a bid to foster peaceful coexistence among Kaduna residents.
During the event, nine cultural groups from Kaduna state including Damishi, Unguwan Mascara, Kujama, Kachia, Takau, Likoro, Gumel, Turunku and Wusasa participated in a dance competition where Kujama emerged first position having scored 73.3 percent with a cash price of N75, 000.
Speaking , the Executive Director, GPD, Mr. Ebruke Esike, emphasized the importance of collective efforts in promoting peace.
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He disclosed that the event is in commemoration of the annual 2024 International Day of Peace, with the theme, ‘Cultivating a culture of Peace.’
Esike noted that the theme requires empathy, understanding, and collective action, stressing that, “Cultivating the culture of peace, cannot happen without tolerance, love, resilience, harmony and understanding of another person’s perception.”
He said: “We must all work together to make sure that the peace is stable. Peace cannot happen when we do not construct our minds to respect and work with the other and ensure that there is peace in everyone’s environment.
“Ultimately communal agencies cannot work unless collaboration is. So if we must cultivate the culture of peace there must be strong education which we are doing with our peace clubs, community agencies, dialogue forum, theater, dances and even the kick for peace football held on Monday are all elements we use informally and formally to make sure that the state is stable and Secure a peaceful environment for ourselves in Kaduna state.”
Also speaking, SARVE III program Coordinator, AAN, Aliyu Adamu, noted that the peace fiesta was designed to promote social cohesion by bringing different ethnic groups and religions together.
Adamu said, “We have different forums where we celebrate the International Peace Day, but here we are using the peace fiesta to celebrate the culture which is the identity, the way of people’s lives and we want to use that forum to see how we can promote social cohesion.
“By bringing different ethnic groups, religions from our community interventions in Kaduna state to come together and showcase their diversity and talent as an act of exhibition to celebrate themselves as a people so as they can breed peace in Kaduna state.
“The cultural peace fiesta here is a kind of dancing. We want to see how different ethnic groups come together and dance to celebrate their identity, culture and this is done with the collaboration of the ministry of human services and social development from the ministry of history and culture where we are collaborating with them to see how we can have an effective and successful cultural celebration.”
He noted that by celebrating diversity and talent, bridges of understanding can be built to foster peace.
In her goodwill message, the Commissioner for Humans Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, represented by Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Dorcas Tanko, commended the organisers for their efforts in ensuring that peace thrives in Kaduna state.
She urged participants to strive for peace, justice, equity, and compassion, while assuring their peace partners of government commitment to foster peaceful coexistence among residents of Kaduna state.
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