The following remarks by Dr. Manu Chandaria were given at the Global Peace Leadership Africa Virtual Conference Opening Plenary on July 30, 2020.
My name is Dr. Manu Chandaria and I am the patron of the Global Peace Foundation Kenya. I welcome all of you to the Global Peace Leadership Africa Virtual Conference 2020, using either your computer, phone or tablet, the subject of the conference is “Transforming Societies for Sustainable Peace and Development through Moral and Innovative Leadership in Education and Peacebuilding”.
This year also marks exactly ten years since we hosted the Global Peace Convention 2010 under the leadership of the 3rd president, his excellency Mwai Kibaki. It is therefore fitting that we hold this conference as a commemoration of the Global Peace Convention which brought thousands of delegates from all over the world to Nairobi.
The Nairobi GPLC follows the Global Peace Leadership Conference (GPLC) 2018 held in Kampala and hosted by his excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museni which brought together regional leaders and delegates.
Over the past few months, we have seen how digital technology helps in the fight against the COVID-19 virus. Therefore, holding this conference virtually is one way of adjusting to the new normal presented to us by COVID-19. Indeed the virtual conference is a demonstration that humanity must find new ways of reaching out to one another to conduct business and whenever presented with unexpected challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020 virtual conference is coming when the world is grappling with a pandemic. It will draw on the expertise of diverse speakers and attendees to discuss solutions for transforming education and promoting sustainable peace during the pandemic and preparing for the recovery.
Although it is a difficult time for humanity, we must, however, come together and discuss various ways to cope with the pandemic and prepare for the recovery. As leaders, we must take every opportunity to give hope to the millions of people who are going through difficulties.
Our education system must include digital learning in schools as one of the main subjects as mentioned above. The world is changing.
The best way to tackle the situation is to see what we can do in our education system. The teaching of values is taking a forward step in all institutions. We need to put emphasis on values and make it a subject on its own in our primary education so that our students learn from the beginning how they will live their lives.
A society that lacks specifically moral values is on a path of ruin. This is the most important thought that I would like you to discuss at this conference and come out with recommendations so that we can send them to governments of various countries.
Please discuss this thoroughly and openly as the subject is very important.
Once again on behalf of the Global Peace Foundation, I welcome you all to the Global Peace Leadership Africa Virtual Conference 2020.
