YFWP-Nigeria gathered religious, government, and community youth leaders from all 18 local government councils of Edo State to explore the theme “Change in the Twenty-first Century” from perspective of YFWP’s founding principles of interfaith cooperation and an ethic of service to realize the ideal of One Family Under God.

Some 24 leaders met at the state Assembly Legislative Quarters in Benin City. The Assembly Speaker was represented by the assembly Chief Whip, Honorable Patrick Aisowiehen. The Speaker’s Chief of Staff, Hon. Alhaji Sule Yusuf, gave the opening invocation.

Following a video of YFWP’s worldwide outreach, YFWP-Nigeria national President, Eras Darlington Eguaoje engaged the distinguished audience with a presentation of the YFWP’s peace principles and worldview. Eguaoje explained that joy and happiness was the original, innate, God-given objective of human life, yet this ideal has been buried in the debris of conflicting, often self-interested goals. Political, economic, educational, and social objectives have often become obstacles to the very essence of life, he said.

“Humanity must remove the obstacles which we have set on our path through our inconsistent and sometimes misdirected thought,” Eguaoje said. “We must not becomes people who misread the signs of the times, people who, though living in the twenty-first century, still hold to concepts and worldviews that are remnants of the twelfth century. We must awaken to a more expansive view of God, a more inclusive view of humanity, and a more insightful understanding of material existence and the fundamental principles that permeate all things.”

Mr. Festus Imarhiagbe, national Secretary General of Project Hope and Change Nigeria, added, “The phenomenon of our time is that everyone must champion the cause of peace in the family, society and nations of the world. I am indeed quite impressed with YFWP stakeholders and organizers who have taken on this awesome responsibility, and I also wish to be a part of this wheel of progress in our nation and world.”

Pastor Osama Agho, Regional Director Agape Force and Deputy National Director, Christian Youth Fellowship Church of God Mission , particularly thanked the main presenter, YFWP President Eguaoje, for  “challeng[ing] me to see life in a new way” and Ogbomo Kingsley of Amnesty International “I am of the opinion that if more were organized the world we be a better place to live.”

More personally, one student participant said, “I learned that the main purpose of life is to be truly happy, and that to become happy, you have to remove the obstacle of wrong thought and wrong actions. What Nigerian and the world’s youth have been lacking is orientation. I love Youth Federation for World Peace.”

Bringing Christian and Muslim youth together in dialogue

Earlier in Ondo State, YFWP-Nigeria organized an interreligious seminar that brought together the chief Imam of Ore Township, several pastors, and secondary school students from both Islamic and Christian backgrounds in a one-day peace lecture.  Participants of both faiths agreed that the children of Abraham must not fight anymore. Further, there is a need to go beyond mere tolerance to truly respecting one another. At the conclusion of the seminar, participants donated resources to purchase food to support a local hospital. Doctors as well as state and local law enforcement expressed their surprise and admiration at seeing these two faith communities coming together to serve those in need.

In Abuja the capital of Nigeria, YFWP and the Young Ambassadors for Peace did an Anti Corruption Road Trek starting from the UPF Peace Embassy to our popular Millennium Park located near the seat of power, Aso Rock Villa. The federal government of Nigeria is determined to stamp out corrupt practices that hinder national development, and various agencies—including the Federal Road Safety Commission, the police, and Youth Football Club—supported the trek.