By Our Correspondent

Stakeholders have called for Sustainable Development in order to achieve global peace.

According to a University don, Prof Benjamin Okaba, to achieve lasting peace, sustainable development goal is not only critical but also integral to the building blocks especially in the present dispensation.

Prof Benjamin Okaba.

Prof.Okaba of Delta State University, Abraka held this view  in Effurun during the International Peace Day organised by the Shedrack  Agediga Foundation.

He noted that the theme of the programme is very apt and timely and also underscores the fact that Peace and development are interdependent entities and conditions.

The university Don who was the Chairman of the occasion, insisted that owing to the prevalence of violent conflicts, terrorism, insurgencies and other forms of life threatening upheaval, sustainable development was needed.

“To appreciate this intricate synergy we must see development not just as mere economic growth but as positive transformation in human productive capacity.

“Advancement in the living conditions of people through access to the necessities of life, decent housing, potable water, education, health etc.

“Low levels of peace and high levels of underdevelopment are directly correlated to the extent that the depreciation in one automatically leads to the deterioration of otherothers.”

On his part, Comrade Shedrack Agediga, Chief Host during his speech said the aim is to seek the importance of peace against the violent menace of war.

Comrade Agediga who is the National Chairman, SHEDRACK AGEDIGA FOUNDATION said that; “Peace is paramount to development and growth. Nigeria today is divided between religion, ethnic and political lines.”

According to him; “Peace cannot be obtained through violence but through dialogue. An eye for eye will make the world go blind, when the power of peace overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”

In his lecture, Dr. Emmanuel-Ufuophu– Biri, Head of Department,  Mass Communication,  DELSU x-rayed the importance of media as instrument of peace and National integration as enormous.

“The media must have the development of the nation in its mind when reporting peace and conflict related issues in the country.

“The mass media has a great role to play if we must attain peace, a wrong report can escalate situation and cause great set back.”

Speaker after speaker at the ceremony harped on the need for Sustainable Development if global peace must be attained.