The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has concluded plans to host Nigerian youths on peace concert in Abuja on Saturday to reduce the rate of killings in the North East.
Mr Mike Omeri, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Director-General, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Mrs Onyeka Onwenu, stated this at a joint news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
Omeri said that the concert was aimed at providing opportunity for Nigerian youths to talk and be mobilised to shun violence and continue to preach peace across the country and beyond.
“The concert is scheduled for Saturday, March 8, at the Eagles Square and is being organised by the Office of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan,” he said.
The DG added that the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youths and Students Affairs would also be involved in the programme.
Omeri said that the concert became necessary sequel to the level of insurgency in the North East and few pockets of violence in parts of the country.
The NOA boss said that the the nation’s first lady was concerned about the rate of killings and violence, which he said could only be addressed with the help of the youth.
Omeri said that the rise in conflict in various parts of Africa called for serious concern, adding that the activities of the insurgency were beginning to attract global attention and condemnation.
He said that the first lady would use the concert to call on all Nigerians to embrace peace, rather than resort to violence in any matter of concern to them.
Onwenu on her part, said that the concert remained one of the strategies to engage the Nigerian youth in tackling violence.
She called on Nigerians to show love and embrace one another in the quest for a peaceful environment and development.
“Many of us cry at night for the mindless killing going on in the country, as our own people are being used against the country,” she said.
She stressed the need to reach out to the young people in curbing the menace, adding that the legacy being bequeathed on the youth now seemed to be that of violence, which he said was worrisome.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that distinguished Nigerians expected to speak at the concert include Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Imam of Abuja Mosque. (NAN)