Intl Day of Peace: UN, Aviary Group call for collective action in a Conflict-Ridden World

By Adejoke Adeleye

The global call for peace resonated strongly on Sunday as the Aviary Association Worldwide (AAW) joined the United Nations in marking the 2025 International Day of Peace, with leaders urging urgent action to address the devastating impact of conflicts across the world.

Speaking at a press conference in Okelewo, Abeokuta, the Global President of AAW, Comrade Seyi Olusa, described war as a scourge that robs humanity of dignity, stability, and development.

He noted that nine of the ten countries worst affected by underdevelopment are conflict-ridden, stressing that peace and sustainable development are inseparably linked.

“Peace cannot wait,” Olusa declared. “It is everyone’s business. Individuals and communities must use their influence to silence guns, end suffering, and build bridges of stability and prosperity.”

He condemned racism, dehumanisation, and misinformation as drivers of violence, urging societies to embrace respect, empathy, and understanding.

AAW Regional President, Avian Babatunde Elegbede, reinforced this call, urging citizens to embody the organisation’s guiding principles of Brotherhood, Integrity, and Charity.

He stressed that peace requires sacrifice and courage, not passivity, urging Nigerians to “sow the seeds of peace in their homes, communities, and nation.”

Also speaking, AAW Gateway President, Avian Olusegun Oyebola, described peace as “an inevitable part of human existence and progression.”

He argued that the year’s theme—Act Now for a Peaceful World—is a call for immediate commitment by both governments and individuals.

Oyebola identified poverty, inequality, and social injustice as root causes of instability, urging efforts to empower women and young people.

He expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, pointing to its resilience and the Renewed Hope Agenda as a foundation for lasting stability.

“The International Day of Peace is not about ceremonies,” Oyebola concluded. “It is a mirror, asking us what role we play in building peace.”