An NGO, Peace Network and Culture Initiative (PENACIN), has called on South-East youths to shun violence and embrace peace for the overall development and progress of the zone.
Executive Director of the NGO, Mrs Onyeka Obi, made the call on Wednesday in Enugu while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the need for enduring peace in the South-East zone.
Obi challenged leaders in the zone to show people, particularly the youth, clear examples of alternatives to violence, which are core values that lie in dialogue, tolerance, compromise and accommodation.
According to her, there is the need to educate the youth on the imperative of living in peace with one another and resolving issues without the use of violence.
The executive director said that adopting peaceful ways of settling issues would make youths to desist from atrocities that could be inimical to their development.
Obi noted that the NGO was currently working on peace education programmes at schools and communities in the South-East zone that would equip the masses, especially youths, with the knowledge and skills required to reject violence and resolve conflicts amicably.
“Education plays primary roles in attitudinal development. What the society, especially the youth, needs now is value reorientation in every sector to promote culture of peace among residents of the zone.
“Peace is one important factor that we need in every facet of life, that is, home, workplace, school, association, small groups and communities.
“Unfortunately, if all these mentioned places are not united in their actions, speeches and ideas on peace, there is bound to be disunity.
“When there is no peace, things will not function the way they ought to. Peace, therefore, has a very great strength.
“If the South-East states and their people are united and co-exist in peace, nothing will be difficult for us to accomplish,” she said.
Obi also tasked the South-East governors to come together to deliberate on the newly-acquired militancy and vices currently reigning among the youth in the zone. (NAN)