Africa Summit - Session VI: Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent Sessions were held on the following areas: (a) Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD); (b) International Association of Chiefs for Peace and Prosperity (IACPP); (c) Peace, Security and Sustainable Development: The Role of Women; and (d) Character Education, Marriage and Family-Building.
Session VI (A). Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD)–
Founded last year in Korea at UPF’s International Leadership Conference, IAPD is an organization which, according to its own resolution, “affirms the unique and essential role that religions are called to play in bringing about a world of lasting peace, a world in which people of all nationalities, ethnicities, races, cultures, and worldviews live together in mutual respect, harmony and cooperation, as one family under God.”
Rev. Mwalagho Kililo, the Kenyan chair of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), an organization affiliated with UPF, was the moderator. Dr. Cherif Diatta of Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal, was the rapporteur.
Speakers:
Bishop David Masupa, the chair of Independent Churches of Zambia, gave a report on the preliminary meeting for the inauguration of IAPD in Zambia held in Lusaka on December 15, 2017.
Bishop Odette Kouman, the founder of the International Mission of Grace, Ivory Coast, said: “New Africa means that we are not going to reconstruct Africa. We need to have another vision. … As the cradle of humankind, Africa has a heavy responsibility to bear. The whole world is looking at us. … We need to create a climate of peace. If we don’t put God at the center, how can we achieve our objectives?”
Archbishop Christopher Tusubita of Uganda, said: “Peace cannot be achieved without the will to offer good governance. The IAPD should work with the government so the citizens can choose their leaders in free and fair elections… Religious leaders should be able to talk on behalf of the people. Only through free elections will Africa have development… There are 1.5 million refugees from South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Burundi in Uganda. This is due to bad government in their countries.”
Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, the president of the Christian Association, Nigeria, said: “All religions preach peace. Peace eludes us. Each day we hear of more violence. What is wrong? We, the religious leaders of this generation, if we were preaching the right direction and guidance, there wouldn’t be violence in the streets. I challenge the religious leaders. We must give to our followers the words and the means which will culminate with peace. If we are going to have peace in Africa, there must be right education in our churches, mosques and places of worship.”
El Hadji Sidiya Dramé, the president of the National Union of Ulemas, Senegal
Sultan Mbombo Ibrahim, Islamic Council, king of Bamoum, Cameroon
Dr. Prophet Radebe, founder, Revelation Church of God, South Africa
At the conclusion the participants approved the resolution to launch the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) and then signed the resolution.
Session VI (B). International Association of Chiefs for Peace and Prosperity (IACPP) –
Traditional rulers are the custodians of land, people and traditions. They are highly respected and honored among their people. By working together, centering on the universal principles of peace, they play a critical role in protecting the institution of the family, social harmony as well as the purity of the environment. The IACPP initiative was launched officially during the Africa Summit 2018.
Mr. Abdoulaye Wone, the director of FFWPU for East Africa, was the moderator. Dr. Oumar Thiam of Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal, was the rapporteur.
Speakers:
Chief Theko Khoabana, Kingdom of Lesotho. “Together we shall bring a new Africa; united we stand, divided we fall,” he said. “Most of Africa was invented in 1960, when 17 African nations gained their independence. Each country has been independent for almost 60 years. Where does Africa stand economically and socially in the eyes of the world? No African can walk anywhere in the world with their head held high. We are told this is a continent with vices, crime and corruption. That must change. It is important that we protect our lands from misuse and sale to foreign entities. All we have is the land. Land does not grow, but the population does.”
Hon. Mohamed E.M. Mohamed, South Sudan
His Royal Highness Shehu Mohammad Mustafa II, emir of Dikwa, Borno State, Nigeria
His Royal Majesty King K. Toyi Djigla, the king of Allada; president, National Association of Kings of Benin
Chief Kamusaki Chibambe Ntambu, the chair of the House of Chiefs, Zambia
At the conclusion, the participants approved the resolution to launch the International Association of Chiefs for Peace and Prosperity (IACPP) and then signed the resolution.
Session VI (C). Peace, Security and Sustainable Development: The Role of Women –
The role and responsibility of women are essential to build a culture of peace. Using the logic of love, women need to have a say in how power and authority are used in societies and In this way, peace, security and sustainable development are intimately linked to the role of women and the heart of motherhood. Panelists examined the unique position that women have in relation to men, the family, society and peacebuilding.
Professor Amsatou Sow Sidibé, the chair of Cheikh Anta Dion University, Senegal, was the moderator. Dr. Abib Sène of Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal, was the rapporteur.
Speakers:
Dr. Basirat Niasse, a member of the African Union (AU) Steering Committee for the “Fund for African Women,” Nigeria, spoke about the limitations that have constrained the nations. “The continent has been bogged down by community and leadership crises due to gross mismanagement and persistent misapplication of its abundant human and natural resources,” Dr. Niasse said. Women and children have borne the brunt of much of these limitations. “Women are especially vulnerable due to the pre-existing gender imbalance in levels of political, economic and social power.”
Ms. Absa Wade Ngom, the director of the Department of Women, Equity and Equality, Ministry of Women, Family and Children, Senegal
Mme. Ndeye Marie Diedhiou Thiam, the coordinator of the Casamance Women’s Platform for Peace, Senegal
Hon. Erinah Rutangye, member of Parliament, Uganda
Session VI (D). Character Education, Marriage and Family-Building –
Dr. Robert Kittel, the president of Youth and Students for Peace, was the moderator. Dr. Mamadou Ngom of Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal, was the rapporteur.
Much of one’s success and fulfillment in life depends on creating healthy relationships. Yet this is one of the most challenging tasks which we all face. The cohesion and stability of the family are prerequisites for a healthy and stable society. Conversely, the breakdown of the family contributes to a wide range of social problems. Therefore, by strengthening marriage and family, we can build a stronger base of social capital that will enhance the overall quality of life for everyone.
In this session Hon. Prof Anthony G. Anwukah, Nigerian Minister of State for Education, said that “good character” is based on culturally accepted norms and that in some fundamental ways the smart phone has changed our social norms by making it socially acceptable for children to be more isolated from face-to-face personal interaction.
Hon. Dr. Ntoi Rapapa, Lesotho’s Deputy Minister of Education, explained that the purpose of character education was to make people productive citizens. He emphasized the role of community leaders and parents saying that the government could not succeed without the support of good leaders in every sector of society.
Dr. David Earle, the chair of UPF-UK, presented a case study of civic contributions based on his family’s effort to turn their home in Birmingham into a kind-of community center. The metropolitan borough in the West Midlands where he lives has the highest percentage of Muslims living there, more than in any other part of England. In their home, they have held educational programs for parents and children and even marriage blessings. As a result, he said their children grew up culturally colorblind and could interact socially with other religious and ethnic groups with prejudice or discrimination.
During the lively, even unstoppable, discussions that followed, Mrs. Judith Annie Mevita, a consultant councilor and founder of Families are Nation from Zambia, proposed that UPF launch a movement to re-build family. The proposal was seconded by Mrs. Akele Sonsoler Aza from Cameroon. It is being presented for consideration via this report.