The Idimuwem Peace and Governance Initiative (IPGI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has called for early peace education for Nigerian children.
In a statement on Monday to mark International Children’s Day, Uduak-Abasi Akpabio, the convener of IPGI, said early peace education for kids will enable effective conflict management.
Akpabio said the government needs to incorporate peace education into the school curriculum for children.
“We realise the importance of starting early to build capacity among our citizens for peace, effective conflict management, and good governance,” the statement reads.
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“Yes, there is a lot of stabilization work going on in places that had violent conflicts to stabilize the country, but we realise that an important element in the long term, to build capacity for peace and effective conflict management is to start early and to start with children and young people.
“That is one of the mandates and initiatives of IPGI; the peace art competition is targeted at children aged 8-10. We realise that children can indeed engage in issues of peace and conflict.
“We can build the capacity of children, but we need to use a medium that children understand and engage with, and would enjoy.
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“While we advocate for peace education, we’ve put together books that can be used for peace education curriculum for children.
“It’s important to reinforce every messaging, give opportunity for children to think through the different concepts, and this year we are going to be looking at the theme of unity in diversity.”
She announced that the 2024 peace competition titled “Peace in diversity” which is organised by the organisation will commence on June 25.
She added that the competition will last for two weeks and is open to interested competitors from all parts of the country.
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