Funmi Lawrence
Nigerian firt lady, the wife of the Nigeria President, Mrs Aisha Buhari and a host of others have bagged the UFUK dialogue award of peace.
The event was also organised by the UFUK dialogue, a non-profit to organisation in Abuja to confer awards on some exceptional personalities in Nigeria for their wonderful effort and support in developing a peaceful society.
It was founded in FCT, Abuja for the purpose of promoting dialogue, culture of co-existence, mutual understanding and to establish a common interfaith, intercultural and intellectual platform aimed at providing information and opinion exchange.
The event which attracted people from all walks of life was put together to celebrate people and organisations that have been contributing to societal peace in Nigeria.
While speaking at the event, the president of Ufuk Dialogue, Kamil Kemanci, said that Ufuk Dialogue serves to stand by societal peace, love, respect and compassion in support of human dignity and the greater good by striving to preserve the common values of humanity.
He said values such as respect, tolerance, peace and mutual understanding were among the ingredients for the award.
He said the theme of the 7th edition of the dialogue was Countering Violent Extremism Through Love and Tolerance.
Kemanci said the dialogue also brought people of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds around the same table.
“Today, we need dialogue and peace more than we need food and shelter.
“Dialogue and peaceful coexistence have always been and still remain a need, a must for us to have a healthy and more productive society.”
According to Kemanci, in dialogue, it is possible to transform conflict into cooperation.
Others dignitaries that were also awarded are Rev. Samson Ayokunle, President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Sheikh Shariff Ibrahim Saleh Al-Hussaini, Chairman, Fatwa Committee Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Chairman, Assembly of Muslims in Nigeria.
Others include: Most Rev. Dr Augustine Ukwuoma, Chairman, Pastoral Agents Catholic Bishop’s Conference, Prof. Amidu SANNI, Vice Chancellor Fountain University, Osogbo-OSUN STATE, Fr. Prof. Hycianth Ichoku, Vice Chancellor Veritas University.
Also, Mrs Pauline Tallen, Board Member, National Agency for The Control of AIDS, Festus Keyamo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Apostle Alexandre Bamgbola, Chairman Lagos State Christian Association of Nigeria.
Rt. Honourable Mudashir Obasa, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, among others.
One of the awardees, Pauline Tallen, while commending the Ufuk Dialogue, organisers of the event and dedicating the award to all Nigerians said, “My prayer is that God will make all the efforts of Ufuk Dialogue in establishing peace and love among us to be successful.
“Whether we are of the Christian or Muslim faith or any other, we are all children of God and therefore, we need to learn to live in peace with one another.
Also, the speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Obasa, represented by Misbau Aminu emphasised that peace can only bring about trust, economic prosperity and good education.
