‘Act Now for Peace’: Abuja hosts 2025 International Day of Peace Commemoration

By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

The city of Abuja came alive on Monday as stakeholders, civil society leaders, peace advocates, and women changemakers gathered to mark the 2025 International Day of Peace. Organized by the Engage Empower Educate Initiative (EEEI), the event was themed “Act Now for a Peaceful World”, urging immediate action against violence, hate, and inequality across Africa.

Delivering his keynote address, Belema Meshack-Hart, Executive Director of EEEI, emphasized the urgency of taking tangible steps toward peace in communities, schools, and political systems.

“We live in a time where peace is under threat, but we must act now—individually and collectively—to change the narrative,” he said.

From Rwanda’s Tragedy to Hope: A Call for Lessons in Peace

During his speech, Meshack-Hart drew parallels between today’s rising intolerance and the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.

“In just 100 days, nearly a million lives were lost. That tragedy teaches us what silence and prejudice can do,” he stated.

He praised Rwanda’s strides in memorialization and peacebuilding, particularly the Genocide Memorial in Kigali, which stands as a symbol of healing and prevention through truth-telling and education.

“Peace is not accidental—it is intentional. It begins with remembering, teaching, and choosing a different path,” he added.

EEEI Launches Groundbreaking Peace Manual to Guide Grassroots Harmony

One of the high points of the event was the official launch of the EEEI Peace Manual, a comprehensive toolkit aimed at equipping communities, schools, and leaders with practical strategies for peaceful coexistence.

“This manual is more than a document—it’s a roadmap to dialogue, conflict resolution, and unity,” Meshack-Hart noted.

The Peace Manual is designed for use in classrooms, community forums, and leadership trainings, promoting early intervention and peace education from the ground up.

10 Million Women, 10 Years: Africa’s Largest Women Peacebuilding Initiative Debuts

In a bold new initiative, Meshack-Hart also unveiled the Women Peace Ambassadors Initiative, with an ambitious target of training 10 million women peace ambassadors across Africa within a decade.

“Women are often the first victims of conflict—but also the strongest voices for peace. We must invest in their leadership,” he declared.

The initiative positions women at the forefront of dialogue, reconciliation, and post-conflict healing processes, making it one of Africa’s most inclusive peacebuilding programs to date.

Peace as an Action Word: Rejecting Hate, Embracing Unity

The EEEI Director emphasized that peace is not passive. Instead, it involves conscious choices—rejecting tribalism, challenging fake news, speaking against bullying, and embracing diversity.

“Peace is choosing truth over lies, community over division, and action over silence,” he said.

He urged all Nigerians and Africans to take ownership of their roles in shaping a peaceful continent.

A Movement Begins: From Words to Action for a Peaceful Africa

As the event concluded, attendees left with a renewed commitment to peace and transformation—not just as an annual commemoration but as a movement.

“Let this day be remembered as the day we moved from commemoration to commitment, where every man, woman, and youth decided to act now for a peaceful world,” Meshack-Hart affirmed.

Dr. Okoror Urges Women to Take Charge as Agents of Peace and Change

At a high-level summit focused on security and governance, Dr. David Okoror, Chief Security and Governance Strategist at the International Centre for Security and Governance Studies, called on women to take a more active role in shaping society and driving sustainable change.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, Dr. Okoror emphasized that women are often the most affected by government policies, yet remain underrepresented in leadership and conflict resolution spaces.

“Women must dare to move,” he said. “Because of their numbers, their reach, and their capacity to influence, women have the power to prevent conflict and build peace—not just in their communities, but across the region and globally.”

He urged women to stop agonizing or complaining about systemic issues, and instead to organize and confront the challenges facing society. “Believe in yourselves,” he added. “Become the change agents that are essential for driving sustainable businesses and communities.”

The summit also featured a panel session with a resounding message: “Act now. You can do it. You are women—and you can do it better.”

The event closed with a renewed call for increased female participation in governance, peacebuilding, and entrepreneurship.

The International Day of Peace 2025 in Abuja marked more than a ceremony, it became a launching pad for grassroots empowerment, women’s leadership, and continent-wide collaboration for sustainable peace.