Olayiwola Shittu obtains International Peace Ambassador Award, pledges harmony, conflict resolution

By Daud Oluwalogbon

Prince Olayiwola Shittu, former National President, Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, has pledged to deploy his new role as International Peace Advocate to promote peace, harmony and conflict resolution among stakeholders in the maritime industry.

Prince Shittu made the pledge while unveiling his plans to have a Maritime Desk within the United Nations Positive Livelihood Award Centre, UN-POLAC as part of broader peace-building efforts in the industry.

He spoke during the 2026 International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace celebration shortly after receiving the International Peace Advocate Award.

Shittu described the proposed Maritime Desk as a strategic platform to address critical issues in the maritime sector through dialogue, mediation and institutional collaboration.

He said the honour was not merely ceremonial, but a call to greater responsibility and renewed service to society, noting that the recognition reinforces the imperative of giving back and provides a broader platform to intervene in crises and contribute meaningfully to peacebuilding efforts.

Drawing a direct connection between the global observance of multilateralism and the realities of the maritime sector, Shittu said he was excited by the opportunities UN-POLAC could unlock for the industry, stressing that peace remains central to nation building, economic growth and industrial stability.

He dedicated the honour to his family, the ANLCA family, his team at the Maritime Industry Merit Awards and stakeholders across the nation’s maritime industry.

Delivering the guest lecture, legal luminary, Jean Chiazor Anishere, underscored the inseparable relationship between peace and economic stability, arguing that sustainable growth cannot be achieved outside a framework of peace.

She said economic peace should be deliberately pursued through policies, ethical business principles and inclusive frameworks capable of bringing government, citizens and the private sector to a common table.

Anishere maintained that peace is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic economic necessity, warning that growth can only be sustained where justice, cooperation and stability are institutionalised.

In his remarks as Chairman of the occasion, who is also the Chairman of Customs Consultative Committee (CCC), Hakeem Olanrewaju, said, the theme of the event: Uniting for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future, was inspirational and a practical call to action, stressing that multilateralism has become a necessity for global survival in an increasingly interconnected world.

Olanrewaju said peace should be understood not merely as the absence of conflict but as the presence of justice, equity and understanding, adding that the role of the CCC aligns strongly with those ideals as a bridge connecting policy with practice, government with industry and regulation with cooperation.

He emphasised that through stakeholder engagement across the trade and supply chain ecosystem, the committee continues to promote collaboration, efficiency and mutual understanding, insisting that where there is collaboration, there is efficiency.

Also speaking, Director General of UN-POLAC, Eton Obong, represented by Zacchaeus Ogunsaya, said peace must be intentionally built through cooperation, justice, discipline and sincere dialogue, stressing that multilateralism remains indispensable in addressing global challenges.

Obong urged members of UN-POLAC to go beyond ceremonial affiliation by embodying the values of peace in conduct and character, adding that members must demonstrate self-control, tolerance, integrity and active participation in the mission of the organisation.