Mr Nanyak Zinkat, Plateau State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has called for collaboration with religious organizations in the state to spread the message of peace.
Zinkat made this call during a courtesy visit to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) headquarters in Jos on Tuesday.
He stated that the message of peace must be preached at all levels in order for young people to internalize the value of peaceful coexistence.
He stated that the advocacy program was a continuation of the national program on building a peaceful people in order to improve national security and rebrand the country for social transformation.
The director stated that the leadership of various religious groups could help spread the message of peace to the youths in order to prevent various social vices from impeding the country’s economic growth and development.
“The youths are the violators of the rule of law, so there are reasons to track them down,” he said, calling on the leadership of various religious groups to assist him in managing our youths.
Zinkat, who presented the Nigerian flag to both CAN and JNI, stated that the act symbolizes peace and shows that the country’s people are united rather than divided.
He stated that the flag was created by NOA in collaboration with Access Bank Plc to help Nigerians remember what the flag represents at all times, as well as the importance of maintaining peace in order to sustain the efforts of the founding fathers.
Rev. Polycarp Lubo, CAN chairman in Plateau state, said the message of peace was timely because the country could use it to end the state’s ongoing chaos and security challenges.
According to the chairman, peace is an essential commodity in everyone’s life that must be sought and maintained.
He went on to say that the family, as a unit, could make a significant contribution to achieving peace by instilling in children the values and morals that bind people together.
Salim Umar, the secretary of JNI, stated that the country is facing insecurity because it has neglected its core values and has neglected the youth.
Umar stated that the NOA could form a synergy with religious organizations to ensure the country’s peace.
“If every Christian can completely practice what the Bible says and every Muslim can completely practice what the Qur’an says, then we will all enjoy peace and harmony,” Umar said.
CAN and JNI, on the other hand, assured NOA that they are ready to work with them at any time to maintain peace in the state.