AUN, API PAYS CONDOLENCE VISIT ON LATE BOARD MEMBER ALHAJI AHMED JODA
BY EMMANUEL SAMUEL, YOLA
The American University of Nigeria ( AUN) in collaboration with the Adamawa Peace Initiative ( API) recently paid a condolence visit on late Alhaji Ahmed Joda’s family in Yola, Adamawa State Capital, led by the President of American University of Nigeria, Dr. Margee Ensign.
Alhaji Ahmed Joda, was a former chairman of AUN’s Board of Trustees and co-chairman of API at inception.
Receiving them at the family house, the late statesman’s son Aliyu thanked the members for their visit and urged them to remain steadfast in upholding the ideals of API, about which his father was passionate, and to continue to work for the peace and development of Adamawa state and Nigeria.
This was contained in a Press Statement signed by Mr. Daniel Okereke, Vice President Public Affairs of the American University of Nigeria and made available to our correspondent.
Dr. Margee Ensign, who has chaired AUN-API Members including the Bishop of Yola Catholic Diocese, Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza, prominent business leader, Chief Paul Ogbonna, and senior management staff of AUN were all present at the event with the exception of the Adamawa state Chairman of the Muslim Council, Alhaji Gambo Jika, who sent in his regrets.
The statement also indicated that The Adamawa Peacemakers also commiserated with the families of the Imam Dauda Bello, a former AUN faculty member.
API is an internationally recognized peacebuilding organization, made up of prominent religious, cultural, business, and community leaders in the Yola area.
The organization recommitted themselves to peace work and human development, with a special focus on youth and vulnerable populations in the region.
API was also established against the backdrop of clashes and banditry in other parts of the country, the AUN-API members resolved to reach out to like-minded peacebuilders and committed stakeholders in Plateau and Kaduna states to share the successful peacebuilding model which has helped to keep Adamawa State relatively peaceful.
According to the statement , AUN-API has hosted international peace conferences, peace rallies and numerous training and livelihood support outreach programs for IDPs as well as for other members of the Adamawa community.
On December 9, 2016, the AUN-Adamawa Peacemakers Initiative was awarded the annual prize for Inter-religious peace building by the London-based International Peace Direct Organization.
The award was in recognition of the groups’ success working against conditions that created Boko Haram.
The AUN-API members pledged to work together again and to do more to sustain the peace in Adamawa State by engaging the youth and at-risk vulnerable groups through the re-introduction of their outreach empowerment activities.
The AUN-API programs include the Feed and Read programs for out-of-school boys and girls, Peace through Sports, and ICT literacy training.
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