By Jude Michael
As the world celebrated the 2023 International Day of Peace on Thursday, 21st September, a newscaster and the Programme Manager of the Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Awka Diocese, Mr Nelson Nwaenyi, popularly known as Nelson Whyte, marked the day with a 42-hour marathon peace news broadcast aimed at fostering peace and oneness.
The live marathon news broadcast took place shortly after a press conference held at JDPC Awka Diocese, Secretariat domiciled inside St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka. It started by 11am on Wednesday, 20th September and ended on Friday, 23rd September 2023.
According to the newscaster, he chose to embark on the strenuous exercise as a way of stressing the importance of peace in society.
Mr Nelson Nwaenyi, otherwise known as Nelson Whyte, who hailed from Ubahuekwem, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, stated that he was ready to do anything that would bring about lasting peace, noting that the importance of peace in the daily existential struggles could not be overstated.
The Programme Manager emphatically said that the National Honours usually given by the Federal Government of Nigeria was not enough for peace advocates, asking them to do more as a way of appreciating those labouring for peace.
He noted that the exercise was streamed live on all his social handles, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram account, as well as his YouTube channel.
His words, ‘This is to address the general public on the importance of the International Day of Peace, especially at this moment of our national life.
‘It was a day set aside by the United Nations in 1981, with the theme for this year as, ‘’action For Peace, Our Ambition For The #Global Goals’’.
‘It is a call to action that recognizes our individual and collective responsibility to foster peace. Fostering peace contributes to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goal SDG in order to create a culture of peace.
‘As part of my commitment and action for peace in the world, I Nelson Nwaenyi, with the support of Justice Development And Peace Caritas, JDPC AWKA, will be embarking on a 42 hour-marathon peace news starting today 20th of September, 2023 in order to mark this day.
‘Also as part of the news content during the news marathon, we shall beam our searchlights on different news concerning peace in Southeast Nigeria, Africa and the world. It’s an opportunity to let the world know the importance of peace to the development of every sector of the economy.
‘No country has ever developed without first seeking for different ways of creating a peaceful environment. Justice Development and Peace Caritas, JDPC, Awka, has at different occasions championed the path of peace through organizing different peace building workshops and trainings meant to equip both young and old, men and women, boys and girls, on the strategies and moral application of peaceful initiatives in our various communities.
‘Furthermore, I also want to state with emphasis that on a day like this peace advocates like Chief Allen Onyema, chairman of Air Peace, and others who have invested their hard earned resources to the restoration and maintenance of peace should also be celebrated every year and co-opted into the national fabrics of various peace initiatives in the country.
‘This is to stress that national honors given to them is no longer enough, especially at this time that the country needs peace in order to stabilize its economy.
‘I call on all peace loving individuals and organizations all over the world to join us on this 42-hour marathon peace news to spread the gospel of peace all over the world. You can use the hash tag, #42HoursPeaceNews and #GlobalGoals on all social media platforms.
‘The 42 hours peace news will also feature interviews with prominent individuals that will bring their own perspectives on how to make the world a peaceful place. In conclusion, I use this medium to appreciate and thank His Lordship, Most Rev Paulinus .C. Ezeokafor, Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, for his fatherly support on all peaceful initiatives in the diocese and also the executive Director of JDPC, Awka, Rev Fr. Levi Ndubuisi Ukor, for his consistent efforts to make JDPC, Awka, a pillar of peace in the diocese.
‘Thank you, gentlemen of the press and all present, as we expect that this message of peace will be spread all over the world,’ he concluded.
