From left: Registrar, Nasarawa State University, Keffi Bala Ahmed II, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Suleiman Bala Muhammed, Education Commissioner, Dr Fati Jimeta Rabo, Emir of Keffi/Chancellor of the University, HRM Shehu Chindo Yamusa and President IAWPA, Denmark, HE Ambassador Per Stafsen
By Samuel Torlumun
International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA) has conferred on Nasarawa State University, Keffi, (NSUK) award of the Most Peaceful State Owned University in Nigeria.
IAWPA, an organization with official consultative status of the UN, and active promoter of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, (SDG) bestowed the conferment on NSUK as its commemorate UN International Day of Education at the university campus in Keffi yesterday.
World Peace President Ambassador Per Stafsen, (Denmark) in a speech delivered at the event said, as an organization with the mandate to assess UN’s SDG performance of governments, individuals and private organizations, it has made bold to declare NSUK the best in compliance with UN SDG-16, particularly in the areas of peace, justice and strong institution.
He explained that it took the organization a whole year of thorough assessment to arrive at the scorecard result, with the application of empirical index to arrive at the conclusion.
Ambassador Stafsen stated that what placed NSUK ahead of other states’ owned universities is its lowest school fees, launch of campaign on ethics and values against rape and indecent behaviours, justice management system, among others.
“You will agree with me that crises and misunderstanding among people is common feature of human society but the way NSUK has managed it internal crisis when compared with others universities shows a good working relationship among themselves and the students” he explained.
He revealed that IAWPA will continue to partner with the university authority to promote the presence of UN activities in the school as well as provides international platforms that will make the students to participate in the various UN events anywhere in the world.
In his remark, Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi Sule described the award event as historic.
Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dr Fati Jimeta Rabo, the governor said it heartwarming that the award is commemorating UN International Day of Education, adding that a community such as university constitutes important social minute to world peace in understanding the harmonious coexistence in the society.
He pointed out that by becoming the most peaceful university in Nigeria, NSUK has become a model for peace at the time Nigeria need it the most.
The governor commended the management, staff and students of NSUK for making peace a priority, which without, there will be no universal stability and meaningful development.
Responding after the presentation, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Suleiman Bala Muhammed said management, staff and students of NSUK are not surprised having been adjudged the most peaceful university in the country due to antecedents of the founding fathers. He noted that the university has a history envisaged to be world class since its conception.
According the university don, NSUK underlies the true meaning of universality and cosmopolitan in full practice. “We have many lecturers here from other African countries. If you look at the population of our students, it is highly cosmopolitan,” he posited.
Over time, the VC said, NSUK is being governed on the principles of rule of law, adding that, conscious efforts are being applied to remove human influences in the conduct of academic activities and the administration of the university.
To domesticate peaceful coexistence, the VC said an interfaith committee that dialogue and addresses issues of religion that come up in the university campus is in place to nip emerging conflicts in the bud.
On behalf of the individual awardees, the Emir of Keffi, and Chancellor of the university, His Royal Majesty, Dr Chindo Yamusa called for more conscious efforts to ensure peaceful coexistence among the people. He said it a unique privilege to be part of the history of peace on the UN International Day of Education.
To achieve maximum peace in the state, the Emir called on IAWPA to partner with NSUK to establish a research centre in the university for the restoration of peace in schools and communities.
The Emir used the occasion to raised critical questions on the realization of world peace pondering on the major hindrances militating against conduct of peaceful elections, human rights, rendering first aids, gender equality and protection of environment.
He urged IAWPA not to relent on its ethical practice of discouraging violence among students. Beyond the shores of the university, the Chancellor asked for more. He called on IAWPA to partner with traditional institution in the promotion of peace through cultural and traditional means.
Other strong pillars of the university honoured as Eminent Peace Ambassadors for their individual contributions are, Nasarawa State Executive Governor, Engr. AA Sule, the Registrar of the university, Bala Ahmed ll, former Executive Secretary, UBEC, Prof. Ahmed Modibbo, Barriter John Shishi, Comrade Abdul Usman Shuibu and Dr. Ken Nwakanma. Highlight of event include unveiling of the #Peace Back Nigerian Project.
