The first thing to do is to inculcate in the youths the ingredients of peace which is love and fellowship
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has restated that dialogue, and not any form of violence, would help resolve various conflicts in Africa.
Obasanjo stated this on Monday in Abeokuta at a youth leadership symposium with the theme “Opportunities for Peace: Roles of The Youths in Conflict Prevention in Africa” .
He said that efforts to inculcate culture of peace and security in the youth must be intensified to spur them to be at the vanguard of promoting peace rather than being used to perpetrate violence in the continent.
The programme was put together by Centre for Human Security and Dialogue in collaboration with the Institute for African Culture and International Understanding, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.
The programme was part of activities lined up for the 87th birthday of the former president coming up on Tuesday, March 5.
Obasanjo explained that instead of pushing forward the narratives of hatred, negative attitudes which brew conflicts and then violence, it was important to embrace love, tolerance and see peace as not negotiable for economic growth and prosperity.
He said that the youths must stand firmly against conflicts in any part of Africa and be agents of peace rather than being lured or used as agent of destabilisation.
“We must begin to bring up our youths in the culture of peace and security. The chances are where we have culture of love, we will have peace.
“The first thing to do is to inculcate in the youths the ingredients of peace which is love and fellowship”.