Lagos State Citizens’ Mediation Centre in collaboration with United Nations commemorated year 2020 International Day of peace with a Webinar via zoom.
The Webinar had five guest speakers whose topics of discourse were coined from the United Nations International Day of Peace theme “Shaping Peace Together: Listening and Learning”.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, Governing Council, CMC, Justice Oluyinka Gbajabiamila, Rtd, opined that “the need for peace cannot be over-emphasized, the ability to reconcile warring factions one to another is a great feat, not everybody has the understanding or can afford to pay for a legal representation but with the CMC and the hard work that is being done, a lot of people are beginning to realize that ADR is a way of getting justice without having to pay for it through their noses”.
He therefore encouraged members of the public to always adopt Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism in settling their disputes, and to eschew violence and embrace peace.
“War doesn’t bring back life, it is only peace and dialogue that does” he added.
In his keynote address, the Country Director, United Nations International Centre, Ronald Kayanja spoke through National Information Officer at the United Nations information center, Lagos, Oluseyi Soremekun.
He recalled the laudable achievement of the CMC and equally expressed how the Centre has been consistently promoting peace.
“CMC has been the arrow head of promoting peace, the UN have been strategic partners of CMC for sometime now and we are glad they have been consistent in the promotion of peace” he disclosed.
The International Advocate, Morenike Obi-Farinde in her presentation titled “The Efficacy of Mediation In Ensuring Peace” listed ways Government and individuals can partner to become peace builders such as planned commitment, partnership and collective action, dialogue and consultation as well as evaluation and accountability.
She restated the need for government to work together with community to ensure peaceful co-exsistence.
The Director, Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, Adeyinka Aroyewun in her presentation titled “ADR And Peace: An Enduring Legacy” said “to ensure peace, relevant stakeholders like Government, NGOs/civil societies, youth and individuals must work together to ensure a peaceful nation as it is often said that conflicts can be a bane on social economic growth of a nation”.
She appealed to Government to conduct grassroots training on ADR and conflicts resolution to ensure peace in the society by resolving conflicts between the people.
Chairman of Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC), Apostle Kehinde Adewale Sowemimo, in his topic titled “Community Participation In Shaping Sustainable Peace” extolled the government initiative on the establishment of Citizens’ Mediation Centre and pointed out the achievement of the Centre on peaceful resolution of disputes.
He said “Alternative Dispute Resolution should be improved upon to the community level”.
He stressed the importance of involving community leaders in resolving minor disputes.
Apostle Sowemimo highlighted the achievements of PCRC in educating the youth on a better way of life, reducing the crime rate in the community and working with the Police officers to fish out the criminals in the community.
Head of current and public affairs department, TVC communications Ltd, Mr Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, in his presentation titled “Journalist as Agents of Peace” explained the role played by Journalists in ensuring peace in the society.
He said ” As an agent of peace, journalists try to uncover the causes of conflict and true goals of all the participants while making sure all the victims of the conflict are harmonized”.
“Journalists don’t shy away from difficult, sensitive or uncomfortable topics such as human rights abuses. In this context, they can be considered the helpers of all human rights defender” he disclosed.
He therefore encouraged Journalists to see themselves as stakeholders in conflict resolution and consistently write stories that will push peace rather than violence.
The Former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, in his topic titled “Effect of Legislation in Ensuring Peace and Security” he opined that peace can be achieved when there is total compliance to the rule of law.
He said “Legislation can enhance peace through legitimate and participatory process. If we do not participate in the process we cannot expect compliance from people who are not aware”
According to him, peace can be enhanced in the society through public awareness and sensitization of people on rule of law, constant review of law in line with changes in the economy and society at large, quality representation in the legislative houses among others.
Speaking on the theme of the programme “Shaping Peace Together: Listening and Learning”, the Director of the agency, Abiola Oseni emphasized the need to work together as a team to ensure peace reigns in our community.
She said “peace can be achieved from the ability to contribute the best that we have toward creating a violence free society”.

“Shaping Peace Together should be a clarion call for every Nigerian toward settling their community disputes. It would be nearly impossible to live or survive in a society where peace does not exist” she added.
Oseni, therefore advised the community leaders, stakeholders and other members of the public to re-shape the community’s peace together.