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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
A Conflict and Security expert, Austin Peacemaker has received the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Ambassador of Peace award for his efforts in promoting peace, human capital development especially among the youths in Nigeria and around West African countries.
Austin Peacemaker who is also ECOWAS Youths Ambassador said he is dedicating his award to the Nigerian Armed Forces, for giving so much to protect Nigerians against terrorism and other criminalities in the country.
The award took place at the just concluded PAN African Leadership Symposium and Honours (PALESH- Abuja 2022) with the theme: Role of Inclusive Governance towards Consolidating Peaceful Co-Existence in Africa.
The organisers said the prestigious award is reserved for individuals who have distinguished themselves in promoting peace within and around their region and winners are carefully selected from various fields.
During the ceremony, which was attended by guests from different countries in Africa, the ECOWAS Youths Ambassador said he is dedicating his award to the Nigerian Armed Forces, for giving so much to protect Nigerians against terrorism and other criminalities in the country.
According to the Awardee, the gallant men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces, have been resolute in their war against terrorism, including aiding in maintaining internal security which is primarily not their role.
The youths Ambassador who has received many awards, admonished Nigerian youths to embrace peace no matter what, saying that violence will never achieve the new Nigeria they are all dreaming of.
He works as a civil-military relations consultant for the Nigerian Army Department of Civil-military Affairs, where he has touched many lives, made positive contributions to Nigerian national security by successfully creating platforms for military-civil engagement with social media influencers and key state actors across various states in Nigeria.
He has had several tours to the Northeast to interact with frontline soldiers and also visit IDPs with humanitarian assistance.
It is worthy to note that this initiative has successfully helped address human rights abuses and brutality, curb fake news, hate speeches and malicious reportage, and most importantly it has changed negative narrative and perception from both the military angle as well as the civilian angle.
The Awardee has successfully engaged over 5000 influencers and key stakeholders across 21 states of the Federation in partnership with the Nigerian Army.
The UN award winner believes that the war against insecurity is beyond tanks and guns; thus he has continued to promote global peace and security.
