Global Peace Leadership Conference
November 7-9, 2013
Abuja, Nigeria
Theme: “Moral and Innovative Leadership: Building Sustainable Peace for a Prosperous Future”
Thank you very much. First of all, for all the participants of this convention, both international and from here in Nigeria, please give yourself a round of applause.
I know that the last two days have been very hectic in schedule. We wanted to make sure that as much could be brought out from this conference, because it is you, especially the leaders here in Nigeria, that will need to carry the mantle forward to really bring about a substantial change in your communities of this great nation of Nigeria.
I know that you are challenged in many ways, but at the same time I think that many of you were enlightened by the hope and the possibility of this great moment in the history of this great nation and this continent of Africa.
As I mentioned in my speech at the opening plenary, I believe Africa is at a moment of transition. You have reached a high pinnacle and yet there are greater heights before you. If you are willing to take on the challenge. I am so moved by the very fact, in meeting and speaking to the various leaders in this nation, that you are truly willing and ready to take that challenge.
“Africans have not been overwhelmed their challenges. They have the spirit, they have the sense of hope to build a brighter future for themselves, their families, for their future generations.”
When I mentioned that this is an exciting moment in the history of this continent, it is because this is really a break from the traditional relationship that this continent had with the developed world. I believe that the developed world has lost its patina of credibility over the last several years — with the breakdown of the financial system, with the lack of leadership on the global stage, dealing with very real problems that are facing many, many people, millions of people around the world. In this vacuum there is opportunity for new leadership to rise, setting a new precedent.
Now, as someone from a developed country, I call America my home today, I know of the potential of America, but at the same time I know the challenges within America. When I come to a continent such as Africa, where all you have is your future ahead of you, you can learn from the lessons of the nations that have charted the path of development before you, you can pick and choose the path to your development.
This gives Africa and the developing world a tremendous bevy of opportunity to chart the path for their development, for their prosperity, without sacrificing some of the more important things that many of nations that came before you had to sacrifice for the sake of modernity.
As a Korean, I know this personally. Yes, South Korea, was at one point in its history the poorest nation in the world after the Korean War. It was poorer than Nigeria. Yet today,60 years later, it is the 12th largest economy in the world. The Korean people reached those heights because they chose to be self-reliant. They chose to determine their own future. And in one sense they bought into the whole western model of development, even giving up some of their most cherished and most important parts of their culture and tradition. One of which is the Korean family.
I believe that the developing world, in Southeast Asia, in Latin America and in Africa, can learn from these lessons so they can chart a path for development that affects the lives, in a positive way, of all of their citizens. At the same time do not lose something in the process.
And I believe that through this vision of ‘One Family under God’ and the fact that we are touching upon these root issues that can bring about a peaceful, harmonious united humanity, which is our spirituality, rooted in principles and values, in a common spiritual vision. Now in the past many institutions, organizations, individuals and nations have tried to deal and tackle the issue of conflict and peace and corruptions and they have done it through political or diplomatic means or economic aid. And they have done and followed that same paradigm over decades and decades and decades with the same results, without resolving any major conflict in any part of our globe.
Without really, sincerely dealing with the issue of peace and defining what that means and without rooting out corruption that plagues all nations around the world even in the developed world. The reason why, I believe, is because we have failed to identify how to address those issues. Those issues fall in the realm of ethics, morality, sense of right or wrong that is tied to humanity’s spirituality.
And yet, no one or organization has tried to deal with it from that perspective. Yes, in the past there were many interfaith initiatives. But, remember that the interfaith initiatives of the past have been vehicles to promote one faith tradition and gain acceptance by other faith traditions. The interfaith approach of GPF, which is different from the interfaith approaches of the past, is that instead of just using interfaith as a vehicle to receive acceptance by other faith traditions, we have taken the approach that there is a common vision that motivates and animates all of humanity. That vision is ‘One Family under God.’
But more importantly there is a common thread that exists in all of the faith traditions that articulates and identifies universal principles and values as the guiding compass of our daily lives. In other words faith traditions of people of faith have more in common than they do differences. I would say that 80 % of what we believe and what we aspire to what we have in terms of a common ethic are identical. Maybe 10-20% in terms of our theology and doctrines might differ. And yet it has been that 10-20% that has been the main reason why people of faith have never come together.
Well, GPF is offering another platform. That we should come together on a common ground to deal with a common issue of our common humanity and that is to build ‘One Family under God.’ (Applause)
The amazing thing is, I remember when we were involved with this journey several years ago, when I started taking this message all around the world. There were those cynics who would say ‘One Family under God’ sounds too much like a Christian message, will it work in the Muslim world? Well, ‘One Family under God’ sounds too much like an Abrahamic faith message, will it work in the Buddhist or Hindu world? I think GPF over the years has developed a track record as we went to every single continent around the world, meeting and engaging with people of faith, of all different faith traditions. If you look at this panel today, we have a Muslim, we have a Methodist, we have a Jain 11.42, we have Christians we have Hindu’s we have white, black, American, African, Korean. In other words, all those pretentions that we put aside because we recognize our common humanity, and our common destiny together through the vision of One Family Under God.
And we can come together in agreement because we share common principles and values that can move the human family forward in building a world of peace. And that is the great contribution that this great work. It is tremendous honor for me to come to this nation of Nigeria, he largest nation on the continent. I was told, not by a Kenyan, but I was told, not by other Africans, I was told, by everyone outside of Africa, that if Nigeria moved, Africa will follow. (applause)
Now, this is the first time I’ve come to Nigeria. And believe me, you showed me a lot. You know, many times I tell my staff, you know, I come to these nations and I never get to see the nation itself. Usually I’m stuck in this conference, I’m stuck in meetings, but actually, I value those meeting the most, as I‘ve met with the leaders of this nation. Because as I’ve said in my speech, I do not see the greatest values in its resources, although you have tremendous resources, you have tremendous potential. I see the true of this nation in its people, in the potential in leaders that I can inspire, hopefully to put a spark in them, to enable them to dream big for this nation and for this great continent of Africa.
It is in those meeting that I saw, I told Bishop Sunday, you Africans, you guys joke so much, everything is a joke. But you have a tremendous sense of humor that is contagious. (applause) For someone who comes from outside this continent, because we see on CNN, Fox News, and on the media all the time, all the problems happening all the time. We see the pictures of starving children, of conflict zones where tremendous horrors have been conducted by one race or tribe to another, or one religion to another. And of course, we’re moved by that, and we’re concerned by that, but as I come to Nigeria, and I know this nation is facing challenges even today, when I come to this nation, you’d think the people might be depressed, or not full of spirit, yet the absolute opposite is the case.
Africans, Africans have not been overwhelmed their challenges. They have the spirit, they have the sense of hope to build a brighter future for themselves, their families, for their future generations. That, that is the more precious than all the gold, oil or diamonds that are on this continent. That is what will allow African to lift itself from its challenges that will bring a bright future for their children and their children’s children.
There always has to be a first step. Today, look at today as that first step.
We are going to be making a pledge, and I want you to make this pledge in the signing of the Abuja declaration your own. Make this your own, own it. Make this your mission in life to make sure that there is a positive future for this nation of Nigeria and the continent of Africa. Become the leaders of transformational change. And believe me, God’s abundant blessing will shine and a new tomorrow shall begin.
Thank you very much.