To tackle rising ignorance and security challenges in Nigeria, UFUK DIALOGUE, an international peace building group, Monday, said it has in the last 20 years established 7 schools in six states of the federation.
Vice President of the group, Emrah Ilgen, stated this during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of Blueprint Newspapers in Abuja, led by its President, Ahmet Omeroglu.
Ilgen disclosed that the schools have over 4, 000 students nationwide, adding that in order to address the challenge of poverty, insecurity and sundry challenges in the country, it has engaged in some charity work across the country.
“We started a charity organisation to try to help needy people not only in Nigeria but all over the world. We organise different programmes every year; during Ramadan, Easter, Christmas times, etc. We helped to open 450 water boreholes and in collaboration with Nizamiye Hospital with which we have carried out 330 free cataracts surgeries for the less privileged.
“During the Ramadan period, we distributed 15,000 relief packages to households year but due to the COVID-19 pandemic we couldn’t do it last year. Also, 1,200 cows were distributed to the less privileged in 26 states,” he said.
In order to address the various conflicts stocking the fires of disunity in the country, he said, UFUK continues to bring different ethnic, religious and tribal groups together to dialogue on ways to resolve the raging conflicts facing the country on all fronts.
He said: “We have to open dialogue centre because, nowadays, everywhere, there are conflicts. Look at Syria, look at Turkey, look at Afghanistan, look at Pakistan, and look at Boko Haram (here in Nigeria). We have to bring Christians, Moslems, Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba, etc together. Let them come, sit around the table and discuss. We have to understand each other, learn from each other. They have to understand that we are on the same journey and if something is wrong it affects everybody,” he further said.
In a remark, the Chief Operating Officer of Blueprint Newspapers, Salisu Umar, stressed the need for peaceful coexistence of every tribe and religion, saying without it there cannot be growth and development.
He said conflict has given rise to a lot of other problems and challenged the management of UFUK DIALOGUE to target the young population, saying it is the only way it can make progress.
He noted that “peace is what everybody deserves because even the two religions preach peace.”
He commended the body for the work of charity it is engaged in, saying it needs to use it as an avenue to create awareness and preach peace.
Similarly, Chairman, Editorial Board of Blueprint, Hajia Zainab Okino, hailed the delegation for undertaking dialogue across the divides, urging for sustainability in the efforts to build peace and engender unity.
