OYECDO President Chinedu Ogwus Leads Global Call for Youth-Led Peace on UN Day



By Genesis Ogiri

Lagos, September 21, 2025 — The United Nations International Day of Peace was marked in Lagos with renewed urgency as Engr. (Amb.) Dr. Chinedu Ogwus, President of the Ogwus Youth Empowerment and Community Development Organization (OYECDO), delivered a rallying message that positioned youth at the heart of global peacebuilding.

Speaking before a distinguished audience in Lagos, Dr. Ogwus declared that the future of peace lies in the hands of the young. “Peace is not a gift handed to us—it is a legacy we must create,” he said, urging governments, civil society, and international partners to channel greater investment into youth-driven initiatives that address both conflict and development.

While addressing diplomats, civil society leaders, scholars, and young activists at the event organized by the Institute of Global Peace and Conflict Management, Dr. Ogwus issued a passionate appeal to governments, civil society, and international partners to invest in youth-led peace initiatives. He challenged young people to reject fear and apathy and instead claim their role as builders of a just future.

"Peace is possible, and it is young people who will make it happen. We must build bridges where others build walls, and plant seeds of hope where others sow fear.”

In recent years, the Ogwus Youth Empowerment and Community Development Organization (OYECDO) has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most influential youth-led movements, blending empowerment with peacebuilding in ways that are transforming communities.

From the restive creeks of the Niger Delta to the bustling streets of Lagos, OYECDO’s footprint is unmistakable. The organization has trained more than 1,210 young people in leadership and conflict resolution, many of whom now serve as mediators and peace advocates in their communities. Its support for over 40 youth-run enterprises has demonstrated that peace and prosperity are inseparable, while the distribution of 270 solar-powered lights to underserved areas has advanced both safety and education.

The organization’s innovative Sports for Peace programs, notably the Upata Unity Cup, have not only eased long-standing communal tensions but also discovered new sporting talent, with four players scouted into the De Cardinal Football Academy. In schools, OYECDO has engaged over 5,000 students through peace education programs that instill empathy, tolerance, and conflict resolution skills from an early age.

Equally significant are the organization’s interventions with vulnerable groups. Its rehabilitation programs for youth offenders have reduced illegal oil activities and improved stability in the Niger Delta, while community relief efforts have provided lifelines for widows and displaced persons. In Lagos, the EKO SAFE PROJECT, launched in partnership with the Coalition of Nigerian Youths on Security and Safety Affairs, has introduced a state-wide road safety campaign promoting responsible citizenship.

Together, these milestones underscore OYECDO’s evolution from a grassroots initiative into a continental voice for peace and youth empowerment—a model of how local action can drive national and even global change.

The OYECDO delegation at the Lagos event — comprising Ekanem Ekanem, Oyinkansola Daramola, Jessica Eke, Chinwe Ezenwa, and Hadji Kwame — embodied the organization’s belief in inclusive leadership. Their presence reflected OYECDO’s ethos: that every young person has a stake and a role in shaping a peaceful world.

For many at the Lagos gathering, the event cemented OYECDO’s status as a beacon of youth innovation and peace leadership. The organization’s trajectory demonstrates how local initiatives, driven by empowered young people, can contribute to both national stability and global peace.

As Nigeria joined the world in marking Peace Day 2025, one truth rang loudest: with OYECDO’s vision and its young ambassadors of peace, the dream of a peaceful world is no longer distant—it is unfolding.

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