By: Julian Osamoto
The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) has called for a national reawakening centred on strengthening family values, describing the home as the bedrock of peace and social stability in Nigeria.
Speaking at a national seminar and award ceremony in Abuja, the Secretary-General of UPF Nigeria, Dr George Ikpot, said that moral decline within families was contributing to the nation’s deepening insecurity and social challenges.
The seminar, organised in collaboration with Celebrity Love for Orphans (CLFO) and the Christian and Muslim Inter-Religious Peace Foundation (CHANMUS), explored the theme: “The Family as Building Block of a Peaceful, Harmonised World.”
Dr Ikpot warned that sustainable peace cannot be achieved in any society where homes are unstable and moral values are eroded.
“At UPF, we are committed to promoting peace at every level—individuals, families, and nations. Without peace, life has no meaning,” he said.
He stressed that family values such as respect, empathy, and conflict resolution are key to fostering harmony, noting that households that uphold such principles create safe, secure, and inclusive communities.
UPF, which holds general consultative status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), uses such platforms to promote the goals of the United Nations, particularly those aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Ambassador Simeon Uwa, Executive Secretary of the International Summit Council for Peace under the UN, echoed Ikpot’s sentiments. He said that the breakdown of family structures has led to an increase in youth dysfunction and criminal activity.
“We live in a broken world where the rule of law is weakening. Many of today’s problems stem from homes that lack direction and values,” Uwa said.
Professor Mary Aibangbe, UPF Coordinator for Kano State and a lecturer at Bayero University, added that education within the family is essential to long-term peace.
“If the family is educated, the world is educated,” she said. “The United Nations plays a vital role in supporting peace-building efforts within the family structure, and programmes like this amplify that mission.”
Also speaking, Chief Tunde Oladugbagbe, Chairman of the CHANMUS Inter-Religious Foundation, said families are the moral compass of society.
“We need to go back to how we raise our children, because the family remains the cornerstone of any peaceful and ethical society,” he said.
The event also featured awards recognising individuals contributing to peace and social development.
One of the recipients, Ms Grace Ishola, Managing Director of African Diversity, praised the UPF for spotlighting peacebuilding through grassroots values.
“I’m honoured to be recognised by an organisation so dedicated to peace. Their work is crucial in today’s divided world,” she said.
The UPF says it will continue to strengthen its presence in all Nigerian states, working to reposition the family as a pillar for lasting peace and social progress.
