The international Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate September 21st every year for commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations.
This year’s theme ‘Act Now for a Peaceful World’ calls for a concrete actions and renewed global cooperation to make peace a lived reality.
According to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres ‘’around the world lives are been ripped apart, childhood extinguished, and basic human dignity discarded, amidst the cruelty and degradations of war. He called on the international Community to ‘’silence the guns, end the suffering, build bridges and create stability and prosperity’’.
In a commemorative message to mark year 2025 World Day of Peace, the UN urged the world to speak up against violence, hate, discrimination and inequality; practice respect and embrace the diversity of the world. There are many ways to act right now.
According to Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, the Director- General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) ‘’the imperative of Act now’’ reflects the reality that peace cannot be deferred, delegated, or delayed. It requires immediate, sustained and coordinated actions from individuals, institutions and nations. Today as we witness conflicts across the globe and challenges to social cohesion within our communities, this theme serves as both a reminder and a unifying call to action’’.
The Director-General is also convinced that the theme urges action towards peace, dialogue promotion and reconciliation, which is now , not tomorrow, not next year, but today for a peaceful world through the use of non-kinetic means to end wars and violent extremism.
He identified also, that peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice, equity and dignity for all; which underscored why the DG at different fora clamoured for full implementation of the Supreme Court verdict on the full autonomy of the Local Government.
According to him, Local Government needs to work to bridge good governance gaps at the grassroots.
Prof. Jerry Gana, the Pioneer Minister of Cooperation and Integration in Africa, in his commemorative lecture to mark International Peace Day and IPCR at 25 years, described the set aside of the celebration of International Day of Peace by the UN as a reminder to humanity of three eternal truth to remember in life.
“That without peace there cannot be sustainable development, once there is conflict, confusion sets in, and without peace they cannot be hope of prosperity, because peace leads to prosperity. Conflicts always lead to suffering and the worst of humanity is the fact that the sanctity of human life will also be threatened’’ he added.
The theme for the year, ‘Act now for a Peaceful World’ according to Prof. Jerry Gana is a call for action for the world, that delay is dangerous, adding that peace delayed is peace denied.
He also identified that the heart of peace is justice, equity and fairness, where there is injustice, they will be conflict. He urged leaders to avoid injustice, noting that in any society where there is injustice, there will be violent reaction.
Prof. Gana also admonished leaders at all levels to harness the power of dialogue and reconciliation, from local communities, dialogue must remain the most effective tool for conflict resolution.
‘Let us listen before we judge, negotiate before you fight, emphasize before you demonize’ said Gana.
The Ecowas Commission representative at the Commemorative lecture to mark 2025 World Peace Day and IPCR at 25 years, Dr. Onyinye N. Onwuka, advocated for a collective action towards building a peaceful world amidst growing global challenges, emphasizing the responsibility of leaders, institutions, Civil Society Organizations and individuals in working together for a brighter and more harmonious future.
She is of the opinion that “Act now for a peaceful World’, is not just a slogan, but an urgent call to build peace in a fragile world, a summon to everyone to act now or face consequences of delayed action.
As the world commemorated 2025 International Day of Peace, with the theme “Act now for a peaceful World’, a clarion call for Stakeholders in peace building and conflict resolution of the urgent need to act now going by the renewed security challenges in the world.
From Gaza to Sudan to Ukraine and back to Nigeria, from the North- East to North-West then North- Central where violence takes regional dimensions. From Insurgency, to banditry, farmer- herder clash, kidnapping and many more. The time to act is now.
Stakeholders at the commemorative lecture to mark World Peace Day 2025, unanimously urged the government to reduce the kinetic means of restoring peace, and focus more on dialogue, mediation, engagement and above all, good governance, equity and justice.
The Institute For Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) a research and capacity building hub, has over the years trained peace practitioners, mediators and conflict resolution specialists in both government and private sectors.
The IPCR proposal of building capacities of one million Youths before the end of the year in digital technology will also help to bridge skills gap and create job opportunities.
However, a lot still needs to be done at the grassroots where insecurity and conflict thrive, given the vulnerability of our youths due to poverty and unemployment.
A clarion call for government, traditional and religious leaders, individuals and Institutions to do more and act now by paying special attention to youth and women empowerment for the sustainable peace we all desired in Nigeria.
Signed
Josephine Ademu
Head, Information and Public Relations (IPCR)
28th September, 2025
