- IPCR Director-General urges Nigerians to actively promote peace and unity during Christmas, embodying the teachings of Christ for coexistence
- Dr. Ochogwu emphasizes the transformative power of peace, unity, and security, encouraging citizens to pray for national progress and resilience
As Nigerians worldwide come together to celebrate this year’s Christmas, the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) is calling on citizens to pursue peace and unity actively.
Highlighting the essence of Christmas as the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s birth, the Director-General of IPCR, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, emphasizes the need to embody Christ’s teachings of harmonious coexistence.
In his Christmas and New Year message, Dr. Ochogwu urges Nigerians to be ambassadors of peace in any environment they find themselves in, underlining the positive impact of peaceful coexistence on national development.
The Director-General stresses the importance of upholding unity, asserting that it is a cornerstone of a progressive nation. He cautions travellers to be mindful of the current times and carry the message of peace to their destinations.
Dr. Ochogwu believes that peace, unity, and security possess the transformative power to break the cycle of underdevelopment. He appeals to Nigerians to use the festive season as an opportunity to pray for the nation’s peace, unity, and progress.
While acknowledging the country’s challenges, he encourages citizens to maintain hope and faith that a new Nigeria will emerge resilient from these difficulties. Dr. Ochogwu emphasizes the collective responsibility of nation-building, urging every Nigerian to contribute to shaping the Nigeria of their dreams.
“As an Institute, we recognize the substantial challenges facing our country. Nevertheless, we should remain hopeful and steadfast in the belief that a rejuvenated Nigeria will rise from our challenges. Let our thoughts and actions be characterized by peace, tolerance, and openness to one another, as these are the organic means to transform the prevailing narrative affecting our social fabric and national cohesion,” he emphasizes.
The Director-General envisions a nation where over 200 million Nigerians stand for peace, creating a pervasive circle of tranquillity that not only fills the voids of violence but also repositions the country on the trajectory of peace and progress.