By Godwin Chukwumaechi, Port Harcourt
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Tuesday began training of community leaders drawn from the 9 states of the Niger Delta on conflict management and dispute resolution.
Participants at the training, which include traditional rulers, community development committee (CDC) chairmen, youth leaders and women leaders, are to be trained on ‘Inclusive Approach To Conflict Management and Transformative Dispute Resolution’.
The training will also include interactive sessions, workshops and discussions led by experts in the field of peace building and conflict resolution.
In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Chiedu Ebie, Chairman of Board of NDDC noted the importance of the training and capacity building, adding that conflict is part of the daily challenge of the human race.
“Everyday there is conflict”, he said, “It can be at home, it can be at work, it can be in the community, it can be anywhere”.
According to the chairman of the NDDC Board, “conflict is part and parcel of the day to day life of human beings. But the issue is how do you do with conflicts when they come up?”
He said the commission decided to put the programme together to broaden participant’s knowledge in terms of resolving disputes irrespective of the shape and size of the dispute.
Ebie stressed the importance of alternative dispute resolution or managing the conflict in a different method other than through litigations.
He said; “I practiced law for the greater part of my career and I saw how frustrating and challenging litigations can be. A lot of times people allow their egos and everything to have a better of them and so they don’t like to move forward to an alternative form of resolving the dispute so you end up litigating for decades and you expend so much money and do so much to litigate. Meanwhile you could have resolved that dispute through alternative dispute resolution or by managing the conflict in a different manner.
“When we come to the communities where we live, it is the same thing”. He pointed out that traditional rulers and religious leaders play important roles because the subjects and people within the communities would always go to them to resolve issues for them.
He thanked the managing director of the NDDC for giving his team the opportunity to do things that impact very positively and also apply to day to day life of the society.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku noted that even though the Niger Delta region had for a long time now been the most peaceful region in the country having gone through a period of crisis through agitations based on the people requesting for their fair share, demanding for social justice, the region had so many experiences in conflicts.
Ogbuku stated; “These experiences, some are good while some are also bad. But out of every experience you must take home a lesson, whether good or bad. You don’t need to dwell on that experience, what you need to dwell is on the lesson, and part of the lessons we have learnt is that we don’t need to wait until conflict arises. Let us be proactive.
“As long as we are existing in a peaceful atmosphere, that does not mean that people are all happy. Crisis might be brewing somewhere without you knowing. But to be proactive is for you to arm the leaders of communities, leaders of our society with the instruments of managing conflicts. It is also our responsibility to ensure that we build capacity among those who manage our communities because for some of you as individuals, the community might not be rich enough to send you people on training, courses on how to manage crisis.
“Hence we did not look at only traditional institutions, that is why it is all inclusive. The clergy, the traditional rulers, CDC chairmen, women leaders, youth leaders. Everybody must synergise to see that we have peace in the Niger Delta.
“So bringing all of you under one roof in a bid to ensure that we arm you with the instrument of managing crisis in your domain was being proactive.
“These are all the initiatives of the NDDC because we know that we are an interventionist agency. Our intervention is not limited to only roads and infrastructure development, our intervention is also in these areas too.
“Well we have to ensure we bring our people from the different parts of the 9 states together to build a regional integration”.
Godwin Ogedemgbe, Acting Director, department of Dispute and Conflict Resolution NDDC, speaking earlier on the essence of the programme, stated that the Niger Delta region being made of different people, languages and culture was bound to experience conflicts.
He observed; “As we gather in this beautiful region known to for its rich cultural heritage and abundant resources. We also acknowledge the challenges we have as people with various diversities. Challenges that often manifest as conflicts within our communities. These disputes can arise from a myriad of factors including, resource allocation, cultural misunderstanding and socio-economic disparities”.
He told participants at the workshop that their very presence at the programme was a testament to the shared commitment to transform these challenges into opportunities and collaboration.
“The roles each of you play in your communities are crucial. Traditional rulers serve as custodians of culture, conflict resolution and advocate for justice. Religious leaders provide moral guidance and foster unity while women leaders are pivotal in nurturing peace and advocating for the needs of families and communities. Together you form a powerful coalition capable of determining change and fostering a climate of inclusivity and understanding.
“Today’s programme is designed to enhance your skills and knowledge in conflict management and peace building. We will be exploring exclusive approach that prioritizes dialogue, empathy and collaboration, enabling us to address the root causes of conflict rather than mere sympathy. The emphasis on inclusivity is particularly important. It is to ensure that all voices are heard, especially those of marginalised groups who often bear the brunt of conflicts but are rarely part of decision making process”, Ogedemgbe stated.
