Lagos: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reassured community citizens of its unwavering commitment to the promotion of peace and security across the sub-region for unity and economic development. ECOWAS Peace Fund Manager, Mr. Dieudonne Nikiema, made this known at a peace conference organized by The Adeola Adeyemi Foundation (TAAF) in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the three-day event with the theme 'Promoting Peaceful Coexistence: A Conflict Prevention Initiative,' aims to achieve peace through the conference, peace walk, and outreach. Nikiema emphasized ECOWAS' readiness to provide funding support to organizations aligning with its mission of promoting peace and security for regional development.
He stressed that ECOWAS' fundamental mission is to promote peace, security, and development, highlighting the importance of supporting initiatives that foster these goals across the sub-region. Nikiema noted that without peace, security, unity, and harmony among community citizens, no meaningful development would take place in the sub-region.
Adeola Adeyemi, TAAF Founder, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the role of youth in rebuilding, transforming, and leading the world by choosing peace over division, unity over hate, and love over fear. She stressed that diversity is a source of strength, with the youth carrying the message of peace through the conference.
In a keynote address, the Oluwo of Iwo, Dr. Abdulrasheed Akanbi, highlighted the sacred and non-negotiable nature of cohabitation and peace among humans. He identified triggers of conflict, such as land grabbing, hate speech, intergroup suspicion, youth disenchantment, and resource contest, that demand urgent intervention.
The royal father emphasized the role of traditional rulers as custodians of culture and intermediaries between government and the grassroots in ensuring peaceful coexistence. He noted that when kings speak the language of reconciliation, trust is restored, and peace-making becomes dynamic through youth engagement and intergroup platforms. He concluded that maintaining peaceful coexistence is more cost-effective than war and is rooted in the lived realities of ordinary people across societies.