The Director General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr Joseph Ochogwu, has charged the Federal government and Nigerian citizens to imbibe the spirit of tolerance in daily engagements to promote peace and development in the country.
Ochugwu made this charge in a statement to mark the 2023 International Day For Tolerance. He went on to note that tolerance is an active thing that needs to be shared, taught, nurtured and nourished to ensure that people of different backgrounds and cultures are able to manage their differences and live peacefully
The statement partly read; “In 1996, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 51/95 proclaiming 16 November as International Day for Tolerance. This action followed the adoption of a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance by UNESCO’s Member States on 16 November 1995.
“The declaration is to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance. It is observed on the 16th of November of every year.
“It is a day we call on the people and the nations of the world to imbibe the culture of tolerance, to have an understanding of each other’s diversity and differences so that we can manage ourselves and live peacefully.
“The International Day for Tolerance highlights the importance of living together irrespective of racial, religious, cultural and traditional differences. It brings together people of diversity to live in a common world, where we have a common humanity and shared resources.
“Tolerance is not a passive thing, it is an active thing that needs to be shared, taught, nurtured and nourished to ensure that people of different backgrounds and cultures are able to manage their differences and live peacefully as human beings. It also helps to promote peace and development.
“Therefore, the 2023 International Day for Tolerance is a clarion call for governments and people of nations of the world to live together peacefully and tolerate one another irrespective of beliefs, religion, tribe, ethnicity and race.”
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