President and Chairman in Council, NIPR, Malam Muktar Zubairu Suraj, addressing participants at the peace summit in Gombe.
By Akanji Alowolodu, Gombe
Nigerians have been urged to engage in continuous dialogue among themselves for a greater and stronger country in the midst of spate of challenges threatening the cooperate existence of the country as a nation.
The call was made by the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State, Professor Andrew Yakubu, during an interview at the sidelines of the North-East Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace and Security, organized by the Nigeria Institute for Public Relations (NIPR), held in Gombe on Friday.
The University Don opined that , because of the globalization and current happenings in the country, there is great need for continuous dialogue so that Nigerians will understand themselves better.
Andrew Yakubu said that, “A forum like this where dialogue is encouraged, it’s a very important and welcomed idea. There is need to keep on informing ourselves so that we will understand ourselves better”.
He described education of the youths as an important recipe for peace in the North East subregion adding that, “when we empower our children with education, they will know what to do. Secondly, we must inculcate the culture of love which all of us are known for in the Northeast. We must also teach and preach peace rather than hate, inclusiveness rather than exclusiveness”.
He further called on youths to avoid delving into issues that does not develop the country positively adding, “the youths must understand the terrain in which they are.”
He also called for empowering the youths whom he described as leaders of tomorrow saying, “As a teacher, I teach students to takeover from me, as elders in the society, we must provide opportunities for the young to put in their best” .
He added that, “Nigeria is mainly filled with young men and women and without harnessing the energy in these youths, particularly in this generation where human capital is more important than material things, it is critical for our development.”
In his address, Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, who was represented by his Commissioner for Internal Security and Ethical Orientation, Alhaji Adamu Kupto Dishi, commended the NIPR for holding the summit in Gombe.
He said that, as an administration that has tirelessly worked for the peace and Security of the State, it will always support such initiatives.
The Governor also said that it is its peaceful disposition that has made Gombe State economically viable, which has also resulted in the State earning the top spot in the ease of doing business.
Earlier, President and Chairman in Council, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Malam Muktar Zubairu Siraj, said NIPR has become a critical stakeholder for the propagation of National Integration for Peace and Security of the country.
He stated among others, that the summit was called to bring back or rejigged the old culture of the peace and unity that Nigeria was known for.
