The Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, a notable NGO in Nigeria, is to receive the Peace and Humanitarian service NGO of the year Award for promoting peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of diverse gender, ethnic and religious groups. The Honour is courtesy of the National Peace Award in partnership with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA).
CEPEJ is rated as the best non-governmental organization in 2021, as well as for humanitarian service to Nigeria and Nigerians. The award is due to the commitment of CEPEJ towards fostering peace, unity, good governance and sustainable environment in the country, as well as for providing humanitarian services to the people, through the leadership of CEPEJ’s Country Director, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade.
In recent times, CEPEJ has embarked on many humanitarian programmes, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, by distributing palliatives to the most vulnerable individuals living in Nigerian rural/riverine communities. CEPEJ distributed bags of rice, beans, palm/groundnut oil, salt, garri, sugar, pastas, as well as COVID-19 personal protective equipment PPE, comprising hand wash buckets, sanitizers, nose masks and gloves to schools, communities and health centers in Delta, Bayelsa, Niger, Lagos, Kano States and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
CEPEJ organizes an Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity Football Competition to build peace among oil-rich nationalities in Delta State, after the ethnic crisis in the area which lasted for years. The peace event is usually graced by notable Nigerians, including representatives of Delta, Edo and Bayelsa State Governments, including their Commissioners for Sports, as well as the representatives of traditional rulers such as Olu of Warri, the Pere of Gbaramatu, Ogulagha, Egbema, Oporomo and Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdoms etc.
CEPEJ also built, furnished and donated a building for use by the State Intelligence Investigation Bureau (SIIB) of the Nigeria Police, in the Warri Area Command of Delta State, to support the Nigeria Police in fighting crime. In collaboration with the Comrade Sheriff Mulade Foundation, CSMF, CEPEJ also organizes Peace, Unity Quiz and Essay Completions on a yearly basis to encourage education in the riverine/rural area of the region.
In line with CEPEJ vision to Compliment the SDG’s goal 4 and to strengthen education also donate a Executive Water Cruise speedboat (200 horse power) Yamaha engine to the Nigeria Marine university, Okerenkoko in Delta State.
To support the Federal Government, and to build peaceful coexistence in Nigeria, CEPEJ donated an office space to the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, IPCR, as a take off point for its coverage of the South South Region of Nigeria. To provoke a peace mindset among young Nigerians, CEPEJ, in collaboration with State Ministries of Education, established Peace and Environment Clubs, PEC, in secondary schools in Bayelsa, Delta, Niger States, and Abuja.
In addition to the above, the NGO’s regular school awareness programme on peacebuilding and conflict resolutions, and many other development programmes, have combined to qualify CEPEJ and its Country Director, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade for the National Peace Award as the Best NGO of the year 2021, and for Humanitarian Services.
The National Peace Award is slated for November 13, 2021 at the International Conference Center, Abuja; it promises to attract men and women who promote peace within and outside the Country, including representatives of Diplomatic Missions in Nigeria. Awards of honour will be conferred on other deserving personalities who have spent their time, resources, talents and offices to foster unity and love in Nigeria. The purpose of the Award is to encourage individuals, corporate organizations and agencies to promote peaceful coexistence in the Country.
The programmme is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s Peace Advocacy Mantra.