An international organisation, Universal Peace Federation (UPF) has inaugurated a peace council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to help foster peace within the capital city.

The UPF is a global alliance of individuals and organizations that are dedicated to building a world of peace, in which everyone can live in freedom, harmony, cooperation, and co-prosperity for all.

Inaugurating the body in Abuja, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of UPF in Nigeria, Ambassador Segun Olushola, charged the council to work hard in ensuring that lasting peace continues to prevail in the capital city.

The council called on the people of Jos to embrace the spirit of brotherliness and avoids actions that tend to disrupt peace in their state.

A minute silence was observed for victims who lost their lives in the recent Jos crises and the UPF's board chairman called on people to give great consideration to the profound relevance and significance of religion, in order to secure human rights.

Speaking on behalf of the council members, the leader, Dr. Abdulaziz Mohammed, stressed that peace comes through cooperation beyond the boundaries of ethnicity, religion and nationality.

"Lasting peace cannot be achieved through political compromise alone, but requires addressing the root causes of conflict as well as transcending racial, religious and ethnic barriers," he added.

He said the council would host the forthcoming world peace festival in Nigeria on February 2009, stressing that over 100 countries will participate in the event.

"The theme for the Global Peace Festival (GPF) is the family as the cornerstone of society, the school of love and peace, and the promotion of healthy marriages and families," he disclosed.

He said the festival will celebrate the vision of 'One Family under God', by developing ongoing programs that will raise and nurture strong marriages and families as well as facilitate inter-religious harmony and foster the culture of peace and service.