Abuja – Inquirer Publishers Limited, publishers of books and The Inquirer magazine, has instituted The International Peace Award for Africa as one of the ways to discourage wars on the continent.
Mr Frank Akinola, Executive Director and concept initiator, made this known in a statement given to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Monday.
Akinola said in the statement that most wars stemmed from the sit-tight syndrome mentality of African leaders.
“The International Peace Award for Africa is for persons who have distinguished themselves in the course of promoting peaceful coexistence among different ethnic groups within a country.
“It is also among countries in Africa as well as among different ethnic nationalities on the African continent.’’
Akinola, former Chief Press Secretary to the ECOWAS Peace Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), in Liberia, added that such efforts included promoting peaceful coexistence through peacekeeping efforts.
Others are arbitration, physical mediation in conflicts and literary contributions through books, drama, films and essays for the promotion of peace in Africa.
The statement emphasised that such writings and mediations should discourage sit-tight syndrome among African leaders, which often breeds civil resistance that degenerates into armed struggle.
He listed the categories of the award to include Grand Commander of International Peace (Africa), Grand Master of International Peace (Africa) and Master of International Peace (Africa).
He said the prize components included a plaque, a medal and a certificate.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“This initiative is a silent approach to enthroning peace on the African continent’’, he stressed.
The statement named members of the board as retired Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (GCFR), as Chairman, retired Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (Vice- Chairman), Col. Kayode Are and Mr Tony Elumelu (members) . (NAN)