Award winning International author, Dr. Lilian Ajayi-Ore, Retired NIS Comptroller, Rev Sister bag UN Group Peace Ambassadors
KEHINDE EMMANUEL, ILORIN
An award winning international scholar, speaker and author, Dr Ambassador Lilian Ajayi-Ore; a retired Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Command, Ambassador Muhammed Aliu Akadri and Administrator, Holy Child College, South West, Ikoyi, Lagos, Rev Sister Ambassador Christiana Oluwafunmike Olagunji have been awarded and decorated as global peace ambassador by the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), United Nations Peace Volunteers.
According to a statement on Sunday, the World Peace Spokesman, IAWPA, Ambassador Emmanuel Nkweke, said the trio were accorded the status after a meticulous assessment of their profiles.
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He added that the world body adjudged them meritorious of the award based on their character and great attainment, and contribution to societal peace and development.
He explained that IAWPA is an International Civil Society Organisation operating as a non-profit making entity with a global mandate to promote peace and appoints Credible Personalities whose lifestyles are anchored in promoting Peace as Eminent Peace Ambassadors across the 193 member states of the United Nations.
He added following the recommendation by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs to the United Nations Economic and Social Council the Council on the 12th of June 2019 after considering its activities on Sustainable Development granted Special Consultative Status to the IAWPA.
According to him, the status has since then afforded the organization the opportunity to partner and collaborate with all United Nations Agencies, Funds, and Programmes to better the workings of the United Nations anywhere in the world for peace and sustainable development. In addition to the ECOSOC Status, IAWPA is also an active Participant of the United Nations Global Compact on Active Participant ID-Status 30511.
Ajayi-Ore, the co-author of ‘The Power of the Learning Mindset,’ said she was delighted with the honour of being a global peace ambassador.
She added that it will strengthen her resolve in pursuing world peace and investing more in the girl child and women in general.
She called on global actors to foster world peace, adding that peace will ensure development across the nations of the world.
She said: “I acknowledge the honor to receive a prize, which is the ambassadorship and I would like to say” thank you to the United Nations for recognizing an effort in selecting us as your representative in the world. We are promising you to make sure that we continue to hold that responsibility very well.”
Akadri, who expressed happiness and joy over his new status, said he would continue to serve humanity with humility.
He stated that he served as Comptroller of Immigration in Ogun State and because of his sterling performance and in ensuring peace in his command, he was transferred to Lagos Command of NIS to replace what he did in Ogun. He added that he retired in Lagos Command after making great impacts and a successful completion of his service years. He stated that he served many nationals and ensured peaceful coexistence during his service at NIS.
He said: “I’m here to serve humanity and I’m going to do my best. Where there’s no peace, there’s no progress.It’s only where there is peace, there is progress. So as a global citizen, one needs to work hard and make sure that there is peace almost everywhere, anywhere in the world. I am asking the governments and people of the world to ensure peace and avoid violence. Peace to all humanity. In one day, we can achieve a lot.With peace and understanding, no mountain is higher. So as an eminent global citizen, I think that is what the Almighty,God introduced us to.”
Rev Sister Olagunji who was elated at the honour expressed surprise that she was considered worthy of being a global peace ambassador.
She said: “Everything just came like a surprise; from the beginning this present moment. Even the peace ambassador award given to me was a surprise. I wasn’t really expecting it.”
According to information on its website, IAWPA is an organization of business technocrats, innovators, social entrepreneurs, and highly professional persons who have pledged to uphold the highest ethical standard of the United Nations and have been so consistent in providing solutions that will make the world a better place.
It stated that members of the association believe that world peace can easily be achieved by dialogue and by the act of fellowshipping together as a concerned people with mutual feelings of uniting under one indivisible banner of the name United Nations.
”The mandate of IAWPA is to enhance the effectiveness of the UN Millennium Development Goals (now the Sustainable Development Goals) and UNESCO Culture of Peace Program particularly the maintenance of global peace and international security and the restoration of human dignity. The Association has maintained a track record that is second to none in area of promoting the United Nations peace objectives and commemoration of the United International Observance Days at remote areas all over the world.
“The two main functions of IAWPA are: Advocacy for Peace and Ensuring Sustainable Development. The association works through country offices to appoint volunteers, peacemakers, peace advocates, peace ambassadors, and promote the United Nations idea of volunteers around the world.
“IAWPA’s strength lies on its volunteers of thousands of professionals who in each year bring skills to communities within their borders or abroad to help local people become the driving force of their own communities. They come from more than 190 countries and nearly two thirds of them are from the developing world with an average age of 39 with strong academic potentials to work for humanity.
“Almost everywhere one turns in the developing world, IAWPA are experts in well over 193 countries’ professional fields, they help to promote peace, organize peaceful elections, bring emergency relief, promote human rights, improve health facilities, teach peace, render first aids, promote gender equality and protect the environments
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JANUARY 26TH 2026)
