By Godwin Oritse

THE Nigerian chapter of the International Association of World Peace Advocates, IAWPA in collaboration the United Nations yesterday celebrated the Day of African Descent and called for more development for the Continent.

Speaking at the event themed ‘People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development’, President of IAWPA Ambassador Per Stafsen said that development and economic cannot be achieved in an un-peaceful environment.

Stafsen said that the African Continent and its has all it takes to be independent of the West adding that African governments must shun every Western influence for the sake of millions of African sufferings from economic hardship.

The objective of the group is to promote peace and sustainable development adding that peace is key to existence of every nation, every person.

On the wars in Ukraine and Russia and Israel and Palestine, Stafsen said that IAWPA through the United Nations has tried to intervene by speaking with the leaders of these warring countries for the sake of victims of the wars.

He said: “Our goal is to promote peace and sustainable development goals of the United Nations. This is very important because without peace, there is no prosperity, there is no way you can grow your economy that is our key point.

“Then the sustainable development goals is a 17 point agenda  under the United Nations and the goal is to sustain and improve the lives of people across the world with clean water, food security, schooling system and other goals that will make people live a comfortable and peaceful life.

“We have tried to intervene in the situations in Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Palestine not directly but through the United Nations. The war in Ukraine and Russia already has impact in Europe and I know the feelings of the people and this feeling is not very good at the moment in Europe.

“The problem is, and this is my opinion, is the President of Russia because I met long before he became President, and I can tell you Putin is a very stubborn man.

“We have also come to observe that there are countries that are not interested in creating a peaceful environment. Look at the Middle East, the conflict between Iran and Syria that want to attack Israel and Israel will want to defend itself.

“And there are groups in some countries that are not government organizations, or anything related to government but are supported by government of Iran.”

Similarly, Convener of the meeting, Dr. Chi Ugboaja said that the group has written to leaders of these warring countries on how best peace can be achieved adding that IAWPA will continue to intervene in these countries until peace is achieved.

In his presentation, Mr. Charles Okafor, a veteran Nollywood actor said that when there is peace, one is minded by the comfort of your fellow human being adding that one of the chief challenges inhibiting social, economic growth and development in Africa is the absence of peace. 

It goes without saying that a peaceful country is a prosperous country, a peaceful country is a stable country, a peaceful is a futuristic country. The concept of peace of peace speaks to audacity of peaceful co-existence, love, bounding and the criticality of constructive engagement where we jaw-jaw and not war-war.