Nigeria Conference Supports Women and Families
Abuja, Nigeria – In support of World Humanitarian Day, UPF-Nigeria organized a conference on the theme “Strengthening Global Solidarity and Empowering Local Communities: The Fundamental Role of Women and Family in Peacebuilding.” The event took place on August 19, 2026, at the UPF Secretariat in the Peace Embassy in Abuja. The purpose was to recognize and strengthen the often-overlooked contributions of women and families to sustainable peace at the grassroots level.
The program opened with prayer led by Dr. Ayodele Mandela Asebiomo, followed by the national anthem, recognition of dignitaries and ambassadors for peace who were present, and brief welcome remarks. A video presentation introduced UPF's mission and global work to the audience, after which the UPF-Nigeria secretary general, Dr. George C. Ikpot, delivered opening remarks to set the tone.
Two lectures anchored the event. The first, “Strengthening Global Solidarity and Empowering Local Communities: The Fundamental Role of Women and Family in Peacebuilding – The Woman's Perspective,” was delivered by Ms. Ememobong Simeon Uwa, who runs programs for widows and schools. She opened by asking where peace truly begins, concluding that while international institutions have their place, sustainable peace is ultimately nurtured in homes, families and communities.
She illustrated this through the story of Mrs. Lucy Richard Simmons, who built peace in her community by providing young men with dignity through agricultural employment, and troubled families with shared farmland. She linked empowering women with empowering communities, illustrated by the story of Charis, a young widow whose life and extended family relationships were transformed through economic empowerment. Ms. Uwa closed with a call to action, to listen to women, invest in girls' education, strengthen families, create leadership opportunities for women and teach children peace at an early age.
The keynote lecture was delivered by Dr. George C. Ikpot, who grounded the day's discussion in UPF's five universal peace principles – common humanity under God, the spiritual and moral nature of the human being, the family as the school of love and peace, living for the sake of others, and cooperation beyond boundaries of ethnicity, religion and nationality. Dr. Ikpot also shared reflections from Dr. Hak Ja Han's founding address on the role of women in world peace, true love, and living for the sake of others, connecting UPF's historical foundation to the day's theme of restoring trust and empowering women and families.
Dr. Elizabeth Olawumi Ariyo then delivered a special report on her work with street children. She recounted how she began helping children living on the street, the criticism she faced from members of her community and even close friends, and how her advocacy led to her arrest and detention for several days. She spoke movingly of the unwavering support of her husband throughout the ordeal, and shared that some of the children she took in have since graduated, while others are currently in secondary school. Her testimony stood as a lived, personal example of the lecture's central message, that women are powerful agents of peace at the grassroots level, often at great personal cost.
This was followed by comments and reflections from ambassadors for peace and participants. The program concluded with a closing prayer and departure.
By Inyang Favour Shin-bok, UPF-Nigeria August 19, 2026
