Traditional Rulers in Nigeria have been called upon to ensure they cooperate with law enforcement agents towards preserving our cultural heritage and maintenance of peace for the development of the country.

Secretary-General, Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM-UNESCO), Abuja, Dr. (Mrs.) Chioma Nwadei made this call in a goodwill message delivered at the 2-Day National Conference on “Culture, Peace and National Security: The Role of Traditional Rulers”, organized by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in collaboration with UNESCO at De-Dome Events Centre, Enugu State, on Thursday, 1st June, 2017.

According to her, peace is central and key to human existence and that, as Royal Fathers, who are the custodians of the cultural heritage, if there is no cooperation with law enforcement agents and government, the peace we desire in the country will be elusive.

Maintaining that peace means much more than the absence of war, Dr. Nwadei described peace as a set of values, attitudes and modes of behaviour that promote the amicable settlement of conflicts and the quest for mutual understanding, saying: “Peace is one of the ways to live together. A way of being, doing and living harmoniously in the society that can be taught, developed and improved upon which we believe, will be a suitable foundation on which a meeting like this can be hinged”.

In her view, for peace to be long-lasting in our nation, it requires both the transformation of institutional practices and individual modes of behaviour, stressing that UNESCO will continue to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations, including Nigeria through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedom, which are affirmed for the different people of the world.

She further maintained that until we attain a high level of tolerance, non-violence and solidarity where poverty, environmental degradation, restiveness, militancy, kidnapping and terrorism amongst others are dealt with, achieving sustainable national security will be a mirage.

Caleb Nor

Media Assistant to ES

NICO HQ, Abuja

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