The Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, Professor Abiodun H. Adebayo, has implored participants of Covenant International Model United Nations (CIMUN 2023), holding in the University, to use the platform to look beyond sectional interests and find common ground for global peace, development, and progress.
According to him, the world is facing dire challenges that would require the positive input of the youth in order for the world to have global peace and tranquillity, especially as the world is now a global village.
He stated further that the world is still faced with the same issues of north-south dichotomy, and wars amongst nations and within nations, even as it grapples with increasing food insecurity, job loss, climate change, and sustainability challenges. There is, therefore, an urgent need, he said, for a renewed ambience of reconciliation, collaboration, and shared commitment in tackling these challenges within the UN and other regional platforms.
Citing an example of the war between Russia and Ukraine, where the estimate of the damages of the carnages is running into billions of dollars, which is more than Ukraine’s pre-invasion GDP and three-times greater than all the military, humanitarian and financial assistance commitments to Ukraine, since the start of the war. He pointed out that the World Bank is estimating a whopping 354 billion dollars for the rebuilding of Ukraine alone which would not have been if there was a mutual understanding between the two countries.
He lauded the Model United Nations Project, which he said provides a platform for bright-minded individuals from various academic disciplines and careers to collaborate, question, analyse, and develop solutions to global issues. ‘This has become increasingly relevant due to the complex and interrelated problems that we face globally, as aforementioned,’ he noted
In his own words, he said, “As future leaders in various fields, it is crucial to understand the significance of diplomacy, negotiation, and cooperation in addressing these issues. Through this conference, participants will develop these skills, gain confidence in public speaking, and most importantly, learn the value of teamwork.”
Also speaking at the programme, Dr. Seyi Soremekun, stated that the journey of great leaders started as a model delegate as well as appreciating the United Nations Information Center for always being part of CIMUN. He assured that the commitment of the United Nations Information Center to CIMUN is unwavering.
Dr. Soremekun, who is the National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Lagos, highlighted that his organisation will continue to support the programme, as it has been doing in Covenant University.
The Chief Executive Officer, GOTNI Leadership Institute, Dr. Linus Okorie and the National President of the Association of Mobile and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMAN), Mr. Victor Olojo, also joined their voices to the theme of the programme, which they both noted as laudable.
Thirty-four (34) countries were represented by two hundred and twenty (220) delegates, comprising twenty (20) foreign delegates, and two hundred (200) delegates from Nigerian Universities, including Landmark University, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Ajayi Crowther University, Lagos State University (LASU) and Covenant University Secondary School (CUSS).