UPF-Nigeria Celebrates UN Day Through World Peace Blessing

Written by UPF-Africa

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

ABUJA, NIGERIA – On October 24, 2018, UPF Nigeria celebrated United Nations Day 2018. The event included a special celebration for family unity and was attended by 24 married couples who pledged to become united couples building united families as the foundation of national unity. The event was held at the Ballroom of the National Merit Awards House in Abuja.

Ambassador Babatunde Adegbesan delivered the opening remarks. He welcomed the participants of the commemoration, spoke about the significance of the day, and called on the member states of the United Nations to become united nations. He also praised the UPF's initiative to bring couples together as a cornerstone of national unity to form the United Nations.

The UN Secretary-General's message was read by Pastor Imo Nkanta, the FFWPU Nigerian Education Director of the Nigerian Chapter. The message for 2018 is as follows:

 United Nations Day marks the birthday of our founding Charter – the landmark document that embodies the hopes, dreams and aspirations of “we the peoples.” Every day, the women and men of the United Nations work to give practical meaning to that Charter. Despite the odds and the obstacles, we never give up. Extreme poverty is being reduced but we see inequality growing. Yet we don’t give up because we know by reducing inequality we increase hope and opportunity and peace around the world. Climate change is moving faster than we are, but we don’t give up because we know that climate action is the only path. Human rights are being violated in so many places. But we don’t give up because we know respect for human rights and human dignity is a basic condition for peace. Conflicts are multiplying; people are suffering. But we don’t give up because we know every man, woman and child deserves a life of peace. On United Nations Day, let us reaffirm our commitment: To repair broken trust. To heal our planet. To leave no one behind. To uphold dignity for one and all, as united nations.

Pastor Nkanta led everyone to a happy song.

Islamic cleric Dr. Abdul Fattah Adeyemi was a guest speaker at the event, calling for peace in Nigeria and around the world. He advised Nigerians to avoid violence and promote mutual love for sustainable peace and development. Emphasizing that God has united Nigerians for a purpose, Dr. Adeyemi urged leaders to pray against the forces that are preventing people from accepting the message of peace, and political leaders to make meaningful contributions to conflict resolution across the country. Muslim clerics urged Nigerians to de-emphasize divisive tendencies such as hatred, selfishness and violence and embrace faith, love and peace.

UPF Nigeria's Secretary General, Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko Oko, spoke about the celebration of family unity as a tool to achieve national unity and peace. He said that the family is the building block of the nation and the world, that family unity is the way to unite nations, and that family unity includes promoting a family-centered culture. He spoke about the efforts of the founder of UPF, and urged all invited couples to participate in the celebration to show their commitment to national unity and to celebrate the United Nations as a United Couple.

The Family Unity Peace Blessing Festival was enacted as a program to unite the family as the basis for national and world unity, promoting a family culture that unites God and people, children and parents, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, and families, and parent and child. The festival recognizes the family as a school of love, peace and unity where people grow in love and learn to live in peace and unity, and qualified participants pledge love, peace and unity. It was started as a program for recognizing married couples.

All 24 couples who attended the event as married took part to the celebration. They expressed their gratitude for the opportunity and joy of being a blessed couple on United Nations Day. Following the ceremony, Peace Ambassador certificates were presented to three dignitaries. The couples came from different parts of the country and were both Muslim and Christian. The event ended with a group photo, and the couple agreed to invite others to the celebration party that followed.
The event was covered by radio and television stations across the country.