Says Workshop For Stakeholders Is Timely, Commendable
By Kobiruo Joseph
Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Youth Development, Prince Sony Jifas Ogbon, JP, has applauded the state government over its commitment in organising workshop on enhancing violent conflict resolution through community early warning and response for stakeholders and key community representatives in Ughelli South.
He stated this immediately at the one day workshop held at the Council hall in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State on Tuesday, March 30.
Jifas who commended the efforts, and of governor Ifeanyi Okowa commitment and the zeal to promote peace held that the workshop is an eye opener to community leaders as it has broaden their horizon and understanding.
“No doubt, what we have learnt here today, will enable all of us to identify early conflicts signs or symptoms, and the various ways and techniques to apply in resolving such conflicts, and especially preventing it from occuring.
“I want to appreciate the Special Adviser to the governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor,JP, for his understanding and commitment to ensuring there is peace in every community in Delta State.
He noted that conflicts, communal crisis happened when stakeholders are biased and fail to identify conflicts signs early and as well tackle same squarely and in a peaceful manner. He said with the workshop; stakeholders and community leaders has learnt a lot and this will help them in working for peace at all time.
Earlier in his keynote address, Special Adviser to the state governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor,JP, disclosed that the one day stakeholders sensitization workshop with the theme: ‘Enhancing Violent Conflict Prevention Through Community Early Warning Early Response For Sustainable Peace In Delta State is aimed at actualizing optimum peace in Delta State.
According to him, since the establishment of the Advisory and Peace Building Council, and the creation of the office, various peace promotion platforms and peace advocacy programmes geared towards bringing peace to all communities in Delta State has been initiated.
“The mission of the office is hinged on strong commitment to contribute to peace and security in the state, maintaining that the purpose of the workshop is to first, increase early warning sensitivity to early warning and early response that will serve a foundation for community peace building, while the second and third is to enhance and strengthen their response to early warning signals through improved synergy and effective coordination and as well as developing skills and ability as community stakeholders to identify and address symptoms of conflicts prevention in the communities.
“When communities live in peace, there will be development. So we monitor, assessed and sensitized various communities on the need to live in peace, and we achieved this through seminars and workshop, he noted”.
Chief Uzor however charged participants to be attentive so as to understand their roles and responsibilities and as well develop long term partnership that can form broad base for Community Early Warning Early Response CEWER, system in their communities.
The first lectures at the workshop were delivered by Prof. Sam Ukala of the Delta State University, Uwomano Benjamin Okpevra of the Admiralty University, Delta State and Ambassador Caroline Usikpedo-Oliseowe.
Participants at the workshop includes stakeholders, community representatives, youths and women from across communities in Ughelli South.
