NGO partners education ministry on ‘peace education’

African Foundation for Peace and Love Initiative (AFPLI), has partnered Lagos State Ministry of Education on the International Day of Peace Lagos Creative contest involving over 100 secondary school pupils across the six education districts.
The event, which took place penultimate week at the Nigerian French Language Village, Lagos, had as its theme: “Promoting peace education and peaceful atmosphere for the right of peace to people during and after 2015 election.”
In his welcome address, President of the Foundation, Rev Titus Oyeyemi, said the organisation is revolutionalising peace education by engaging many channels, which include inuaguration of school and community-based peace clubs.
According to him, some of these initiatives include the African Children of Peace Clubs for children in basic schools, the Youth Peace Alliance Clubs for teenagers, and KAIROS Peace and Love Clubs targeted at undergraduates in tertiary institutions. The fourth is the New Peace Legacy Clubs, targeted at young graduates undergoing their one year compulsory National Youth Service Commission, (NYSC).
The foundation, Oyeyemi explained, is also taking peace education to a higher level by designing, developing and publishing education curriculum and text books suitable for  contextual needs, applications and adaptations.
Oyeyemi said the foundation has been participating at the International Day of Peace and other United Nations (UN) programmes and events since 2006.
“Regrettably, the voice of the Nigerian children and youths are constantly missing from the political affairs of the nation. For this reason, pupils from the six education districts have been invited to present dramas and playlets to promote peaceful 2015 general election,” he said.
Representative of Akran of Badagry, Aholu Menu Toyi, Chief Harrison Ajose, advised people to stop violence by encouraging the use of the word ‘please’ and giving children right grooming at home, knowing that they are the future leaders.
“Grooming of children is a partnership with parents, the school and the government. We should use this occasion to ascertain peace, build better character in our children and good neighbourliness,” he said.
Ajose appealed to Nigerians to consider peace and togetherness by rededicating themselves to creating a better Nigeria.
The pupils presented dramas, songs and poems on the need for peaceful election. At the end, District IV came first in the song category with 25 points, while District II and District III emerged first and second runners up with 21.4 points and 13.5 points respectively.
With 28.5 points, District III topped, district II and I with 21.4 and 20.1 points to clinch the star prize in the drama category.
Also in the poem category, District II led others with 25.8 points, followed by District I with 22.5 points and District III with 18.2 marks.