Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on Nigerians to reject division and embrace the values that promote unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, in a message marking the 2026 International Day of Peace.
In a statement issued on Monday, the First Lady said lasting peace required the commitment and participation of everyone, stressing that peace must begin in the home and extend to schools, workplaces and communities. "I encourage all Nigerians to reject division and embrace the values that unite us as one people. Let us invest in peace through our words, choices, and actions every day," she said. She described peace not merely as the absence of conflict but as something that must be deliberately nurtured through tolerance, patience, justice, mutual respect and dialogue. "Peace begins in our homes and extends to our schools, workplaces, and communities. It is strengthened through tolerance, patience, justice, mutual respect, and dialogue," she added.
The theme of this year's International Day of Peace, "Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day," was adopted by the United Nations to underscore the need for collective commitment to building and sustaining peace. The First Lady said the theme reflected the reality that peace is not a destination to be reached once, but a daily practice requiring intentional effort from individuals and institutions alike. She congratulated Nigerians on the occasion and called for continued efforts to promote unity and peaceful coexistence across the country.
The International Day of Peace is observed annually on September 21. The United Nations General Assembly established the day in 1981, and in 2001 designated it as a period of non-violence and ceasefire. The observance provides an opportunity for individuals, organisations and nations to reflect on the state of peace and to recommit to the principles of non-violence and mutual understanding.
The First Lady's message comes at a time of heightened tension in Nigeria. The 2027 general elections are less than four months away, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, and the governorship and state assembly elections for February 6. The campaign season has already been marked by reports of political violence, including attacks on opposition convoys and disruptions of political gatherings in several states. In Plateau State, the government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas following a weekend of attacks that left at least twelve people dead. In Niger State, the deaths of thirty-seven detainees in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps triggered protests and a 24-hour curfew in Minna. In Sokoto State, bandits killed two people and rustled livestock in Kebbe Local Government Area. In Rivers State, the decomposing body of an unidentified woman was recovered from a stream in Ahoada West, in a case linked to alleged ritual killing. The violence has deepened fears that the 2027 elections could be conducted in an atmosphere of insecurity and division.
Against this backdrop, the First Lady's appeal for peace carries particular weight. She has consistently used her platform to advocate for unity and peaceful coexistence. In March 2026, she called for religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence at an interfaith Iftar and Lent event in Abuja, where she emphasised that her marriage to President Bola Tinubu, a Muslim, demonstrated that peaceful coexistence across religious lines was possible. In July 2026, she urged divine intervention to touch the hearts of those perpetrating violence, terrorism and banditry during a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto. She has also used the Renewed Hope Initiative to promote food security and support vulnerable communities, arguing that poverty and hunger are among the root causes of conflict. Her message on the International Day of Peace is consistent with that broader pattern of advocacy, framing peace as a collective responsibility that begins with individual choices.
The First Lady's emphasis on the home as the starting point for peace reflects a philosophical position that has defined her public engagement. She has argued that the values of tolerance, respect and dialogue are learned first within families and then carried into the wider society. Her statement that peace is strengthened through "tolerance, patience, justice, mutual respect, and dialogue" identifies the specific virtues she believes are necessary to counter the forces of division and violence. By framing peace as an investment rather than a given, she has placed the responsibility for building a harmonious society on individual Nigerians as well as institutions.
Reactions to the First Lady's message were not immediately available from political leaders or civil society organisations. However, her appeal aligns with the broader efforts of the National Peace Committee, the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution and other stakeholders who have been working to promote peaceful conduct ahead of the 2027 elections. The IPCR has organised workshops, peace walks and interfaith prayers, and has called on political actors to place national interest above personal ambition. The National Peace Committee has secured commitments from presidential candidates to conduct issue-based campaigns, though the persistence of violence suggests that such commitments have not always translated into practice.
For Nigerians, the First Lady's message is a reminder that peace is not merely the absence of war but the presence of justice, fairness and mutual respect. In a country that has endured decades of insurgency, banditry, communal violence and political conflict, the call to reject division and invest in peace is both timely and necessary. Whether it will be heeded by those who stoke division for political gain remains to be seen, but the First Lady has placed the issue at the centre of the national conversation on a day dedicated to peace. As she put it, peace begins at home, extends to communities, and is strengthened by the choices Nigerians make every day.
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