The UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, has called for a surge in diplomacy for
peace and for a new emphasis on preventing conflicts in Nigeria and the world
in
general.
Guterres made the call in a statement made available by the
National Information Officer of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in
Nigeria, Oluseyi Soremekun
The
Secretary General was quoted as saying this in a message to the Lagos Model
United Nations (LMUN) 2017 organised by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in
collaboration with UNIC Lagos.
Guterres’ message was delivered by UNIC Lagos
Knowledge Management Assistant, Ms Bolanle Olumekor.
The LMUN with the theme,
“Innovation, Development, and Diversity for Global Sustainability” was attended
by 200 delegates from 14 Universities in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. “We
are also working to improve living conditions everywhere through the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development.
“All parents want a better life for their
children. All religions value
peace. All communities thrive when they
value diversity. “Today people around the world are inter-connected. Conflict, environmental destruction, poverty
and injustice affect everyone. We have
to work in common cause for our common humanity,” Guterres said. He urged the
delegates to follow the UN social media accounts and stay fully engaged in
their communities.
“Together, let us create a more compassionate, inclusive and
peaceful world,” he said. Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama in a
message noted that the LMUN was “essential in preparing our minds on the need
to achieve global peace and prosperity through your simulation of global
actions by modelling the UN through your Committees.” The Minister explained
that simulation in communication skills, diplomacy, public speaking, resolution
writing, international law and politics as well as trade relations would assist
in understanding the overall objectives of the UN.
According to Vanguard report, He said that it would also
assist in understanding its rules of procedure and its modus operandi, adding
that the future of Nigeria and the world rested in the ability of the delegates
to succeed in reinventing the wheel positively. He said that this was also “to
actively challenge old traditions and models that do not necessarily translate
into this era, to explore the ways they can marshal the amount of time spent
with technology for good”.
The Dean, Faculty of Law of UNILAG, Prof Ayodele
Atsenuwa, thanked the UNIC and other partners for ensuring the success of the
event. Atsenuwa emphasised the commitment of the student-organisers for their
drive.
The Secretary General of the LMUN, Mr Aliu Gabriel, in his message,
urged delegates during committee sessions to foster innovative ideas towards
addressing some of the prevailing issues around the world.
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