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JOS – The wife of Late Chief Solomon Lar, Mrs Mary Lar, reminiscing on the life and times of the elder statesman, said he told her on his death bed to take the message of peace, love and unity to the people of Plateau and Nigeria as a whole.
She spoke at the opening ceremony of a 2-day conference on Conflict Resolution and Peace Building, organised by Solomon and Mary Lar Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Political science and Centre for Conflict Management and Peace Studies of the University of Jos on Thursday in Jos.
According to her, her husband after a long and happy marriage and following the tragic loss of their son, Lar, while on his deathbed, urged her to spread the message of peace, love, and unity to their community and Nigeria as a whole.
She emphasised the importance of instilling values of peace, love, and unity in children from a young age, which she perceived as a foundational for a harmonious society.
She shared the story of a seven-year-old student and his understanding of peace, love, and unity, highlighting feelings of safety, happiness, and togetherness within the family and community.
Mrs. Lar said, “Following Solomon’s passing, I felt compelled to honor his last words by establishing a foundation dedicated to promoting these values, which reflects on the significance of respecting the wisdom of elders and the importance of community support.
She expressed gratitude to community leaders and members for their support and emphasized the need for collective efforts to uphold the values of peace, love, and unity.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Architect Samuel Jatau, said Chief Lar is remembered as a good man who left a lasting legacy in Plateau State and Nigeria with many people identifying with him and his contributions.
He urged the Solomon and Mary Lar Foundation to expand its scope beyond family ties to include others who share Lar’s vision, which would help in preserving and growing his legacy.
The Plateau governor emphasized the importance of recognizing Mrs. Lar, who is still alive and has made significant contributions as a professional and former ambassador.
He encouraged the Plateau people to turn adversity into strength for growth and unity.
The government of Plateau State pledged financial support of N10 million naira to the Foundation to aid in its ongoing work.
Other donations were made to the Foundation.
