Departmental Summit and Family Festival for Peace

The Martin Luther King room of the SILVA Museum in Porto-Novo, capital of Benin, served as the setting this Saturday, May 28, 2022 for the first of 12 peace summits to be held in the 12 departments of the nation. It was the department of Ouémé that hosted the very first Summit and Family Festival for Peace. The event was held as part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) and was co-organized by the latter and the Universal Peace Federation and in collaboration with the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP) and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. Around the main theme, namely: “The construction of peaceful communities, interdependence, mutual prosperity, universal values ​​and female leadership”, several activities filled the program in which approximately 500 people participated in face-to-face and in person. line. Notable personalities who participated include:

The wife of the President of the National Assembly of Benin, Mrs. VLAVONOU,

HE Mrs. Memba Bio DJOSSOU, Former Minister of the Family of Benin,

The Honorable GBEDIGA Timothée, First Deputy Mayor of the Commune of Sèmè Kpodji

The Honorable Marc GANDONOU, Mayor of the Commune of Aguégués

HE Charlemagne GNANKOTI, Mayor of the City of Porto-Novo

HE Théophile SONOU 2nd Deputy Mayor representing the Mayor of the commune of Dangbo.

HE André ASSOGBA, 2nd Deputy Mayor representing the Mayor of the Commune of Adjarra

Her Majesty LAGUIDE SANNI Nafissatou, Queen Onikoyi of Porto-Novo

The Municipal Councilor of Porto-Novo and Co-Sponsor of the event, Mr. BIOKOU Romulus

Madame Blanche HONVOU, Sponsor of the event

Professor Nelly KELLOME, Vice-Rector of the University of Abomey-Calavi…

Dr. Paterne ZINSOU, Vice-President of UPF Africa.

And several other leaders of civil society organizations.

The opening was marked by the welcome address of the Mayor of the City of Porto-Novo and the special message of the Founder, the Mother of Peace, Dr. Hak Ja Han MOON which was read by the President of the Women’s Federation for World Peace Benin, Madame Jeanne LOKO. Following the opening, place was left to Her Excellency, Mrs. Memba Bio DJOSSOU, Former Minister of the Family to make a brilliant presentation on the theme: Women’s leadership and the consolidation of peace in Benin and Africa: Assessment, challenges and prospects.

There were also two special presentations respectively on “Five universal principles for peace” presented by Dr. Paterne ZINSOU and “the contribution and impact of the family renewal program for peace” presented by Pascal DEGBEY . Before the stages of the family festival for peace officiated by the couple of the Reverend Emmanuel ALLOGNON, a group of 12 young people from IAYSP, including 9 students from the West African Protestant University, made the Promise of purity before marriage before the Heavenly Parent and the True Parents, the authorities of the republic and the university as well as their parents.

Among the ten couples who received the Blessing, there was the Honorable Timothé GBEDIGA, First Deputy Mayor of Sèmè-Kpodji. It should also be noted that there was the distinction of 06 personalities including the wife of the President of the National Assembly of Benin.

It should be noted that the Artist Marlène ZINSOU, Daughter of the late International Artist of Peace, Maman Vivi l’Intern ationale brightened the hearts of her performance.

Media coverage was provided by national television (ORTB) and other media outlets.