Great Green Parrot (The youtHouse reporters)
…as Corps Reaffirms Undying Commitment to Peace Building and National Development.
It was another gathering of major Stakeholders and Actors within the Nigerian Youth and Civil Society Communities, as the Peace Corps of Nigeria marked its 2025 Founder’s Day and 27th Anniversary on Thursday.
The Corps organized a Media Briefing which was attended by top dignitaries from both Government and Private Sectors held in at the Art and Culture Event Centre by the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Among the distinguished guests were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief George Akume, represented by a Director from the Office of the SGF, The Honourable Minister of Education, represented by a Director in the Ministry, The Head of Nigerian Fire Service, the Mandate Secretary for Social Development FCT, The President African Civil Society Forum and Executive Director, National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, alongside renowned leaders of Nigerian Youth Constituency.
The Media Pally was used to recount the journey so far and current state of the Corps, which was generally judged by Stakeholders as highly impressive.
In what appeared as a unanimous opinion and verdict, all participants including Youth and Civil Society Leaders, Government and Private Sector Organizations in attendance, concertedly called on the National Assembly to complete the good gesture of passage of the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, while calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign the Bill into Law afterwards, considering such act as one of the best legacies of his Administration and monumental gift to Nigerian Youth.
Adddressing members of the Press during the event, the National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Ambassador Dickson O. Akoh. Noted that the Organization is deeply concerned by the stark reality that idle and disillusioned youths often become easy recruits for terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities. It is therefore critical that the nation adopts a more strategic, inclusive and multi-sectoral approach to security, one that recognizes the role of youth empowerment in preventing violence and building peace. And the Peace Corps of Nigeria can indeed play a more strategic and complementary role.
He further discloses that the organization has its presence in all communities in Nigeria, which makes the Corps to be well positioned to embark on local surveillance, gathering of intelligence to be transmitted to relevant Security Agencies and Authorities to enhance rapid responses.
“it was in advancement to these course that the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps was passed by the House of Representatives in February, 2024 and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence, where it has since awaited its third reading. If passed by the Senate and assented to by Mr President, the Bill will formally institutionalize the Organization operations and unlock the full potential of it contributions to peace-building and national security”
Amb. Akoh as well as other Dignitaries and invited guests during their Goodwill messages, made a passionate appeal to the Nigerian Senate, and indeed the Senate President, His Excellency, Sen. (Dr) Godswill Akpabio, GCON, to do the needful by facilitating the swift passage of this vital legislation. Its enactment would not only be a landmark achievement for the nation but also the most cherished 27th Anniversary gift to the dedicated officers and men of the Peace Corps of Nigeria across the country.
The event which had almost all the top Media Outfits in Nigeria concluded with consensus that ascent to the Peace Corps Bill will shape a new roadmap for a secure, inclusive and united Nigeria