Education for peace building

By Stella Bassey Esirah

Many a times when I have a big issue to dialogue with illiterate persons; I find myself very helpless for; both of us seem not to be making any sense to the other; until I apply a kind of therapeutic measures, I don’t know about you; this remains me of my one time professor who will always repeat in class “If you think education is expensive, try illiteracy.”

Cultural diversity is an asset for society/nation building and political stability, lack of this affects understanding, unity and development. In fact, promoting cultural diversity and encourage ensuring peace in our society is a great challenge to accomplish. We cannot blame the disarray in our society today on one person or a particular administration I feel it is a collection business. Consciously; each person must start a paradoxical approach and self interrogation; for you can exonerate yourself only when you find yourself in administration not doing the same thing you condemned. Institutional change and policy implementation can be possible solutions; however, intercultural understanding and tolerance for other cultures should be firstly manifested.

The concept of a culture of peace can be established through education, knowledge of other cultures, and use of information technology. Enhancing education to promote cultural diversity links indigenous knowledge systems through to modern information technology. However, underdeveloped technology and low levels of literacy hinders this progress of educational and informational approach to promoting cultural diversity. Promoting intercultural dialogue, can increase tolerance and deepen understanding of indigenous people. If intercultural understanding and tolerance are practiced through education, diverse cultures can easily be integrated into the formation of cultural identity of the nation, which is a key dimension to conflict resolution.
 Our nation is a multicultural. It is a nation in the African continent often designated as the “giant of Africa”= the golf. The nation is distinguished and united by differences like gender, age, language, culture, tribe, religion, geography and thinking.

Such diversity should be seen as a positive challenge to our intellect and emotions so; we can learn to work and live in peace and unity. The phenomenon of ethno-religious and cultural violence has become a feature of our age. With this violence, thousands of people, mostly youths and women have been killed and many injured. Property worth billions of Naira has been destroyed.

These violence acts have slowed down development. It has sent waves of panic and fear through a shocked and outraged public. It has also destroyed social relationships among the people of some communities. Such violence also provoked, entrenched and accelerated the cycle of youth violence in the nation. The question now is; who created religious intolerance in this country? If all of us look up to the one God Almighty as we claim; preaching love and peace why is there enmity?

Ethno-religious, intercultural and political unity is a cornerstone of the peace and progress of our nation. We must continuously call for greater dialogue among people with a shared humanity and gain a better understanding of other cultures in other to ensure a more rapid integration of socio-economic ties between communities.

 In a diverse society such has ours, it is essential to ensure harmonious interaction among people and groups with plural, varied and dynamic identities. Accepting our humanity first and foremost would give expression to the reality of our diversity. Government policies should serve all citizens, irrespective of differences. In a democratic system there must be strength in diversity. Our communal needs should be conducive for cultural exchanges, which will allow the flourishing of creative capacities that would sustain national unity and progress. Education is a powerful tool for cultural/religion tolerance and transformation. It plays a vital role in achieving a more progressive unity, peace and harmony from our diversity. Education is beyond providing a foundation for broadening knowledge and fact; it helps socialization and conflict resolution. It is responsible for creating space for people to interact, socialize and build accord.

This will be as thrilling as it is enriching since it presents a multitude of challenges, but it will work better wherever leaders catch the vision of what is happening. Our nation is a gathering of tribes that never met or negotiated their coming together; it is a gathering who never saw each other before.

With all these defects, this gathering must be a gathering of educated people who would be able to dialogue reasonably. With education for all, the nation will be devoting her energies to the preparation of the greatest national struggle of all time which is the struggle for national emancipation. The awesome task is to organize, galvanize and consolidate the numerous tribes into one homogenous nation.  It is not only about the unity of different peoples but also across ideological differences.

Sr. Dr. Stella Bassey Esirah HHCJ is a lecturer and Head of Department of Philosophy at St. Joseph Catholic Major Seminary, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State ( esirah@hotmail.com).