In commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Peace, the Engage Empower Educate Initiative (EEEI) made history with the official launch of its Peace Manual, a groundbreaking toolkit designed to equip communities, schools, and leaders with practical strategies for peaceful coexistence across Nigeria and Africa. The event, which took place yesterday in Abuja under the global theme “Act Now for a Peaceful World,” brought together a diverse assembly of stakeholders, civil society leaders, peace advocates, and women change-makers, all united in calling for urgent action against violence, hate, and inequality on the continent.
Delivering the keynote address, EEEI Executive Director, Belema Meshack-Hart, underscored the urgency of collective and individual responsibility in building peace. He highlighted the dangers of silence and indifference, drawing a powerful parallel with the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, where nearly one million lives were lost in just 100 days. Meshack-Hart praised Rwanda’s efforts at memorialization and peacebuilding, particularly the Kigali Genocide Memorial, describing it as a symbol of healing, truth-telling, and prevention. “Peace is not accidental it is intentional. It begins with remembering, teaching, and choosing a different path,” he said.
Speaking on the importance of the Peace Manual, Meshack-Hart explained that it is more than just a document it is a roadmap to dialogue, conflict resolution, and unity. Designed for use in classrooms, community forums, and leadership trainings, the manual seeks to embed peace education at the grassroots level and encourage early intervention in conflicts. He stressed that the resource is meant to empower teachers, community leaders, and policymakers to build sustainable peace in their spaces.
The event also marked the unveiling of the Women Peace Ambassadors Initiative, an ambitious program with a target to train 10 million women peace ambassadors across Africa within the next decade. Highlighting the dual role of women as both the first victims of conflict and the strongest advocates for reconciliation, Meshack-Hart emphasized the need to prioritize women’s leadership in dialogue, post-conflict healing, and peacebuilding processes. “Women are often the first victims of conflict but also the strongest voices for peace. We must invest in their leadership,” he declared.
Adding to the discussions, Dr. David Okoror, Chief Security and Governance Strategist at the International Centre for Security and Governance Studies, called on women to take a more active role in shaping society and driving sustainable change. He pointed out that women are disproportionately affected by government policies yet remain underrepresented in leadership and conflict resolution spaces. “Women must dare to move. Because of their numbers, their reach, and their capacity to influence, women have the power to prevent conflict and build peace not just in their communities, but across the region and globally,” he said. Urging women to move beyond complaints and take ownership of societal transformation, he encouraged them to believe in their own power to become essential change agents.
The summit concluded with a spirited panel session that reinforced the central message of the day: the time to act is now. Participants were urged to embrace their capacity for change, with a resounding affirmation that women, in particular, hold the power to build peace more effectively and inclusively.
EEEI’s 2025 International Day of Peace commemoration not only amplified the call for immediate action but also set in motion two transformative initiatives the Peace Manual and the Women Peace Ambassadors Initiative that are poised to influence the future of peacebuilding across Africa for generations to come.
(This story was originally published by https://leadership.ng/ngo-engages-10m-women-to-promote-peace-in-communities-schools/, and we at Engage Empower Educate Initiative are proud to share it as the organizers of this historic event.)
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