The African Institute for Justices of The Peace AIJP held its 2024 Fellows’ Investiture and International Peace Day Celebration yesterday 21st of September, 2024.
The programme tagged with the theme: “Building A Culture of Peace In Africa: Now Is The Time To Take Action” held at Sultan Bello Hall (Dome), University of Ibadan.
The Registrar of the AIJP, Barrister Ogunnaike Oluseyi, in his welcoming address highlighted the Institute’s main objective bothering on access to justice, peace and conflict resolution in Africa through education, reorientation, training and research.
Barrister Ogunnaike noted that the essence of the celebration of International Peace Day is to reiterate commitment to building a culture of peace in Africa and called on members and fellows of the institute to support the Institute’s humanitarian activities and free training programmes.
The Guest Speaker, Dr. Enemaku Idachaba, a lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan while speaking highlighted the importance of peace in our society and therefore admonished all humans to promote peaceful co-existence wherever they find themselves.
He stressed that peace education is a panacea to arrogance, extremism and obduracy adding, “Yes, peace is possible; and Africans are capable of inventing their own future. Therefore, to transform the economy of war into an economy of generalised development, investments, diversification and education are needed”.
In his words, Barrister Michael Akinbowale JP (Chairman of the Oyo State Justices of the Peace) advised the participants especially the newly inducted members to be ambassador of peace in every aspect of life.
The Registrar, Barrister Ogunnanike, while speaking further on the Investiture said, Africa Peace Ambassadors, comprising 21 Doctoral Fellows, 15 Fellows, and one full member were honoured by the institute. He added that the Institute honoured four people and one member of the Oyo State Justice of the Peace with special recognition awards.
The decoration of Doctoral Fellows and African Peace Ambassadors was thereafter handled by Ambassador (Dr) Akande Babatunde and the newly inducted members were sworn in with presentation of certificates of induction. Some eminent personalities in the society were also honoured with the fellow of the Institute immediately after the swearing in of the new members.
While advising the new inductees. Dr. Akande highlighted importance of being inducted as members of the Institute and pointed out that their membership is a potential that would become their credentials which are very essential to make them influential in the society.
He therefore urged members to restrain from any form of violent resolution amid several challenges confronting the country, making life unerabale for the citizenry.
The programme ended with group photographs and vote of thanks led by Amb (Dr) Abiodun Philip Ajayi, JP.