To foster sustainable peace in the world, especially in Nigeria renowned gender rights activist and peace advocate, Enitan Oluwa has advocated for youth empowerment with peacebuilding skills.
Oluwa gave the advice during a peacebuilding and conflict prevention webinar organised by Rotaract Club of Isolo on Sunday.
Oluwa underscored the importance of equipping youths with the necessary tools and knowledge to actively contribute to peacebuilding efforts in their communities and beyond.
Speaking on the topic “Youths/Teenagers responsibilities in fostering peace in the society” Oluwa posited that: “Youth represents a formidable and potent force for positive change and investing in their capacity to engage constructively in peacebuilding initiatives is crucial for achieving lasting peace.”
The 2023 Rotary International Positive Peace Advocator highlighted the transformative impact of youth-led peace initiatives, ranging from grassroots reconciliation efforts to advocacy for social justice and human rights. “Young people bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and boundless energy to the table making them invaluable partners in the pursuit of peace.”
Oluwa who is a champion of goals 1, 3, 5, 10, and 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasized the need for tailored educational programs and training opportunities that prioritize peacebuilding skills development among youths.
“By providing young people with training in conflict resolution, mediation, intercultural dialogue, and leadership, we empower them to become agents of positive change in their communities,” she explained.
She stressed that beyond youth empowerment, some of the recipes for sustainable peace include low level of corruption, good relationships with people access to information as well as the promotion of gender equality.
She added that also, quality education, cultural exchange, prevention of violent extremism, and continuous advocacy will go a long way to ensure sustainable peace in society as she commended the service club for putting the event together.
On their parts, the president and vice president of the club, Rotaractor Damilola Kushimo and Rotarator Ruhamah Ifere commended the guest speaker for doing justice to the topic as they expressed hope that the participants and the general public will make the most of the advice to ultimately foster lasting peace in the society.
