The United Nations, Peace and Positive Living Awareness Centre (UN-PEPOLAC), Nigeria which recently held its 2023 Annual Peace Advocates Convention has appointed the senator representing Anambra Central, Senator Dr Victor Umeh as United Nations Prestigious Mayor For World Peace.
It also got Phoebe Ifeanyichukwu Nwandu, a director of special duties, in the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, as the first woman mayor for world peace (MP-UN). The peace advocates and Ambassadors Annual Peace Advocates Convention promotes an innovative, value-based approach to peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
Presenting the award to Senator Victor Umeh in Awka, Anambra State, the International Coordinator of UN-PEPOLAC Nigeria, Bishop DrOzioma Ozoemena said: “Senator Victor Umeh God has made you a voice to champion for peace. We have followed your activities for years. You are a voice for equity, you are a voice for fairness, you are a voice for justice. You are a man of peace.”
In his remarks, Senator Umeh expressed gratitude to the organisation for finding him worthy of such an exalted award and appointment.
“This is an enormous load on me – to foster national and international peace. As a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will continue to sponsor and support bills and motions that will foster peace.
“When I represented Anambra Central in the 8th Senate, I championed equity, fairness and inclusiveness in Federal Government appointments, allocation of projects and employment. I promise to redouble my effort in the 10th Senate,” Umeh said.
He urged everyone to walk on the path of peace, noting that no meaningful development could thrive where there is no peace.
Speaking at the 2023 Annual Peace Advocates Convention under the theme: “Roles Of Peace Advocates In Conflicts Preventions And Management In Nigeria,” the international coordinator UN-PEPOLAC Right Reverend Dr Ozioma Ozoemena said: “Peace Advocates Convention has become an annual ritual as far as our organization is concerned. The date of this year’s event is slightly shifted forward to give way for the general elections and their recovery. This annual event serves the purposes of orientation for peace advocates, the opportunity to interact and interface amongst ourselves, building a lasting relationship, expanding our lives horizon and frontiers receiving new members into the fold of peace advocacy and other benefits too numerous to mention.”
On the 2023 world peace day celebration in Nigeria, Dr Ozoemena also stated that “2023 marks the mid-point in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and the 75th Anniversaries of the universal declaration of human rights and the convention on the prevention and punishment of genocide.” He affirmed that the organization will celebrate world peace day on September 21, 2023, at Professor Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre Awka, Anambra State.
Meanwhile, Blessing Nonye Ngonadi was investitured as the first female Peace Ambassador in London UK and was appointed as United Kingdom Coordinator of UN-PEPOLAC.
The event also featured paper presentations on the convention theme by Professor Echezona Ifejirika, (Ambassador for World Peace),HRM Igwe Sir Ben Emeka,Okebo 11 Umueri, (Mayor for World Peace), and Most Revd. Mike Chukwudum(Mayor for World Peace).There was also support towards Peace and Leadership Centre Building Project.
Chief of staff to Governor Soludo, chief Ernest Ezeajughi, Igwe Sir Bennett Emeka, MP-UN, Okebo 11 Umueri, the director of research and technical, Professor Olusegun Sogbesan, chairman/CEO Nature’s Renaissance International (NRI), Professor Clinton Brown Odiagbe, among others, attended the event.
