Essential Ndubuisi
Abuja, Nigeria — The United Nations Youth Association-Nigeria (UNYA-NG) celebrated the 2025 International Peace Day with a summit in Abuja, underscoring the theme “Advancing Peace through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. This year’s observance focus centers on the Sustainable Development Goals and their direct link to global peace.
The United Nations International Peace Day Summit, 21 September, 2025, held at National Merit House, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria, brought together prominent figures, dignitaries, stakeholders, peace advocates, humanitarians and SDGs champions.
In his opening speech, the President / Head of Mission of the United Nations Youth Association-Nigeria (UNYA-NG), His Excellency, Ambassador (Dr.) Eze Ihechukwumere Ezekiel, highlighted how addressing poverty, inequality, environmental threats, and injustice creates a stronger foundation for peace in Nigeria and global.
On her part, the UN Ambassador of Peace and Founder, Matermental, USA, Dr. Dorcas Adeola Folorunso, guest speaker in her speech presented by Chenka Esther Sunday, call for actualization of the 17 SDGs to drive peace building in Nigeria. “The real, lasting peace we all seek is something more. It is a positive peace. It’s dynamic, it’s resilient. It’s the presence of justice, the presence of equality, the presence of opportunity. It’s the kind of peace where every single person on this planet can achieve their full potential with dignity” — Ambassador Dr. Adeola Folorunso said.
On his part, the United Nations Youth Association – Nigeria (UNYA-NG) Foreign Envoy To The United Kingdom And Europe, Amb Kareem Desmond Akadri, guest speaker in his speech presented by Noah Columbus addressed Peace as the foundation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Peace is not an isolated goal. It is the golden thread that runs through the entire fabrics of the SDGs. When a child goes to school rather than to war, that is peace. When a community shares safe drinking water instead of competing for scarce resources, that is peace. When women and men have equal opportunities to thrive, that is peace. The SDGs remind us that development without justice breeds inequality, and peace without inclusion breeds fragility” — Ambassador Akadri Desmond asserted.
Highlight of the United Nations International Peace Summit 2025, Abuja, Nigeria was presentation of “ Peace Ambassador ” appointment and award certificates to Dr. Promise Wobo Iwezor, Ambassador Oladele Simeon Adewale and Nwadike Blessing Joy by the United Nations Youth Association – Nigeria (UNYA-NG) in recognition and appreciation of their valued and high quality humanitarian services in Nigeria, which breeds peace and promotes the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ambassador (Dr.) Eze Ihechukwumere praised the UN Peace Ambassador recipients as reformers, whose humanitarian services are pivotal in fostering peace and actualization of the SDGs by 2030 in Nigeria.
The Peace Summit, which also marked the 26th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s Declaration on a Culture of Peace, concluded with a call for all citizens (especially, the youth) to act — by advocating for fairer policies and laws, standing up for human rights, and supporting climate action and SDGs actualization by 2030.
