Abdul Ahmed (right) a senior programs manager and Rimpyen Danjuma Yohana (left) the Youth and Education Development Officer of GPF Nigeria
The Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Nigeria One Family under God (OFUG) radio campaign returned to the airwaves through Liberty Radio Kaduna in North Central Nigeria in October 2024. Promoting peaceful coexistence, the radio campaign attracted as many as 1.8 million diverse listeners each week from 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna as well as parts of Niger, Katsina, and Kano.
GPF Nigeria’s Senior Program Manager Abdul Ahmed and Youth and Education Officer Rimpyen Danjuma Yohana were guest speakers on October 3 where they emphasized GPF’s vision of “One Family under God,” which values diversity through the underlying foundation of our shared humanity. They also underscored GPF Nigeria’s continued commitment to peaceful coexistence through the organization’s peacebuilding efforts within and outside of the state while the radio campaign was on a hiatus. A few of the many initiatives undertaken during the break included the Lapai Peace Festival in Niger State, the drug awareness campaign in Kafanchan, and the Global Peace Women initiatives.
Nurudeed Dauda, a public affairs analyst and lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic, joined Rimpyen Danjuma Yohana as a guest for the remaining four programs. Their conversations on October 10 and 17 centered on maintaining peace before, during, and after the upcoming local government elections on October 19. While discussing various actions that can lead to election violence, such as divisions among people with different ethnic and religious backgrounds, electoral fraud, technical issues, and youth poverty and joblessness, they reiterated the importance of a multi-faceted approach to ensure a peaceful outcome. The methods discussed included informed citizens, the government’s adoption of a tolerant and inclusive approach, and encouraging youth to be peace advocates.
The two guests returned on October 24 to discuss the peaceful outcome of the election process. Minimal unlawful behavior was reported across the 23 Local Government Areas, and the program praised the actions of the electorates, the public, and the security agencies in achieving the desired outcome. They challenged the elected officials to deliver the “dividends of democracy” and for the distressed to avoid violence and only use legal means to dispute the election results.
As guests on the fifth and final program of the October series, the duo defined the context of peaceful coexistence for listeners. They highlighted its social, economic, and human rights value while enhancing the dignity of all people regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation. The guests then examined ways for communities to promote peaceful existence such as interfaith dialogue, supporting education, critical thinking, community service, and civic engagement. They asked listeners to acknowledge and address the challenges to peaceful coexistence so that communities can achieve harmony and resilience.
Listeners of the OFuG radio campaign expressed their appreciation for its return and its support of peaceful coexistence. According to Engineer Mark Julius from Kakuri, in Kaduna South LGA, “The enemies of peace are not relenting in their efforts of division; hence, the voice of peace must be made louder and sustained.” In addition, Hadiza Ahmed, a caller from Zaria, commented that it was time for Nigerians to celebrate their common humanity. She stated, “No developed society of the world is where it is by accident, but through deliberate efforts from both the government and the citizens.”
Peaceful coexistence is everyone’s responsibility. GPF Nigeria remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence in families, communities, and beyond. Through its OFUG Radio Campaign, it actively engages listeners to make peacebuilding a foundational element of their lives.
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