The wife of the former Minister of Police Affairs, late Chief Solomon Lar, Mrs. Mary Lar, reflected on the life and legacy of the elder statesman, sharing an emotional memory of his final moments.
According to Mrs. Lar, on his deathbed in 2013, her husband asked her to spread a message of peace, love, and unity to the people of Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole.
She shared this poignant story during the opening ceremony of a two-day conference on Conflict Resolution and Peace Building, organized by the Solomon and Mary Lar Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Political Science and the Centre for Conflict Management and Peace Studies at the University.
Mrs. Lar recalled how, after a long and fulfilling marriage and the heartbreaking loss of their son, Chief Lar’s last wish was for her to carry forward his message of peace, unity, and love, according to Independent.
She emphasized the importance of instilling these values in children from a young age, believing that this is essential for creating a harmonious society.
To illustrate the power of these values, Mrs. Lar shared a touching story of a seven-year-old student who understood peace, love, and unity in terms of safety, happiness, and togetherness within the family and community.
She expressed that following Solomon Lar’s passing, she felt compelled to honor his final wish by establishing a foundation dedicated to promoting these principles. Mrs. Lar emphasized that the foundation not only reflects the wisdom of elders but also highlights the vital role of community support in building a better future.
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.”
Mrs. Lar also expressed her heartfelt gratitude to community leaders and members for their continuous support. She underscored the need for collective efforts in upholding the values of peace, love, and unity in the society.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Architect Samuel Jatau, praised the late Chief Solomon Lar as a man of integrity whose legacy continues to resonate throughout Plateau and Nigeria. He urged the Solomon and Mary Lar Foundation to extend its reach beyond the Lar family, inviting others who share the same vision to join in preserving and expanding the foundation’s work.
Governor Mutfwang also recognized Mrs. Lar’s significant contributions, both as a professional and former ambassador, and encouraged the people of Plateau to transform adversity into strength for growth and unity.
In a gesture of support, the Plateau State Government pledged a financial contribution of 10 million Naira to the Foundation, alongside other donations from various sources, to further its important work.
