The founder of Advocates for Moral Values & Civic Duties Initiative (AMVCDI), formerly Value System Initiative (VSI), John-Freeman O. Ondoma on Friday, April 26 joined other patriotic Nigerians in a national dialogue aimed at building a united country.
At a National Integration Conference at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, with the theme: “Revisiting the national question: Nigeria’s elusive search for National integration,” organised by the Kukah Centre, with support from Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, speakers were in unison in their call for a mechanism that will foster peace and national integration.
In his remarks, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, said that Nigeria’s pluralism and its vast diversity in ethnicity, language and religion, remains a valuable asset to the nation.
A NAN report quoted the Speaker as saying that embracing and leveraging the country’s pluralism would propel Nigeria towards a more unified and prosperous future where the collective strengths of its diverse population would be fully harnessed.
Also speaking, the founder of Kukah Centre, Bishop Matthew Kukah while stressing the urgent need for nation building, urged all Nigerians to stop the blame game and unite for the good of the country.
“Building our nation is not about apportioning blame. It is about the urgency of national integration. National integration doesn’t necessarily mean everybody must be the same. It is for us in Nigeria to understand the intricacies of managing diversity.
“National cohesion is important because without it, it is impossible for us to grow. This country is increasingly in recession. So, the urgency of national cohesion is a call that we must make and continue to make,” he said
Others present at the event include, Annup Vyas -Head of Conflict, Stability and Security, Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, Prof. Talla Ngarka S. FHSN- Chairman, Taraba Independent State Peace Architecture, Jake Epelle – founder TAF Africa and Chief Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu CFR OFR MFR, President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Others are former chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, BOT member, The Kukah Centre, Dr. Enyantu Anna Ifenne, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa Mr. Samson Itodo, Managing Director of Beacon Consulting Limited and security expert Kabir Adamu, former Commissioner in Kogi State Zainab Okino, former NLC president and a member of the Nigerian Senate, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, Barr. Gloria Ballason, and a host of other dignitaries.
Images from the conference
