The wife of Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, has urged Nigerians to promote peace, dialogue and mutual respect as the country joins the rest of the world to mark the International Day of Non-Violence.
Dr Soludo, in a message to commemorate the day on Friday, said peace begins with individual choices, words and the way people treat one another, stressing the need for collective efforts to build a more peaceful and inclusive society.
“As we celebrate International Day of Non-Violence today, let’s remember that peace begins with our choices, our words, and how we treat one another,” she said.
She called on families, schools, communities and institutions to promote dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution, particularly in raising children and young people who would contribute positively to society.
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“May we always raise a generation that chooses dialogue over conflict, kindness over cruelty, and love over violence,” Dr Soludo said.
She said a peaceful society was a shared responsibility and urged Nigerians to make peaceful choices in their daily interactions, adding that non-violence should be reflected in homes, workplaces, schools and communities.
The International Day of Non-Violence is observed annually on October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, who is widely associated with the philosophy and practice of non-violent resistance.
The United Nations established the observance to promote a culture of peace, tolerance and understanding and to encourage public awareness of the principles of non-violence.
In Nigeria, the observance provides an opportunity to reinforce the importance of peaceful dialogue, tolerance and respect for human dignity in strengthening social cohesion and national development.
Dr Soludo urged Nigerians to recognise that peaceful coexistence was essential to creating communities where children could grow safely, families could thrive and economic activities could flourish.
She said efforts to prevent violence should not be left to government and security agencies alone, but should involve citizens, community leaders, educators, parents and young people.
“A peaceful society is a responsibility we all share. Choose peace first always,” she said.
She called for greater attention to values that encourage empathy, respect and responsible citizenship, particularly among young people, saying these would help strengthen Nigeria’s social fabric and promote a more harmonious society.
