By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
The Rotary Club of Evwreni in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State has organized a seminar on ‘Peace Building and Conflict Resolution,’ with a call on individuals and leaders in the community to prevent conflict instead of allowing it to occur.
Delivering the seminar lecture, at the event held on February 22, 2024 at the Evwreni town hall, the guest speaker, Prof. Sunny Awhefeada of the Delta State University, Abraka, dwelt extensively on the various causes of conflict in homes, communities, kingdoms, ethnic groups and even in the nation to include, injustice, poor communication, impatience, oppression etc.
The university don went further to list the different types of conflict such as industrial conflict, domestic conflict, religious conflict, inter communal conflict, intra communal conflict and host of others.
Prof. Awhefeada ended his lecture by calling on individuals and community leaders present to always prevent any form of conflict from taking place by mediating on issues early enough in a peaceful mood to avoid disastrous escalation.
“I want to end my lecture by calling on you present here especially community leaders to mediate on issues early enough in a peaceful mood to avoid uncontrollable escalation. We should know that prevention is better than cure. And like what I said at the begining of this lecture, I described conflict as a spark of fire. If you refused to put it off at the earlier time, it can be disastrous at the end.
“This is why we shouldn’t allow issues to get out of hands before we plan to settle them. Instead of us to imbibe with conflict resolution, let’s imbibe with conflict prevention. This is where to build and sustain peace and to also avoid disasters and calamities,” he said.
After the lecture, the questions and answers session followed. The guest speaker also took time to provide answers to all questions, especially those on the division and failed leadership in Evwreni kingdom.
On this note, the president-general of Evwreni kingdom, Olorogun Kenneth Ukpebitere and other notable Evwreni leaders present at the seminar appreciated the Rotary Club of Evwreni as the convener of the seminar and also thanked the guest speaker as an illustrious son of Evwreni kingdom. Olorogun Ukpebitere promised the people that, he would constitute a conflict resolution and peace committee to handle Evwreni intra communal conflicts very soon.
The Evwreni PG also pleaded that, the same seminar should be organized again, but with a larger audience.
The seminar however ended with vote of thanks presented by the Vice President of the Rotary Club of Evwreni and also the Project Chair, PAG Clementina Ejabefio. She expressed her appreciation on behalf of other Rotarians to the President of the Rotary Club of Evwreni, Rtn. Olorogun Dr. Samuel Adjogbe for his usual support for the many projects and programmes of the club.
She also thanked the guest speaker, Prof. Sunny Awhefeada for imparting such knowledge on the people over the topic. Finally, PAG Ejabefio thanked all the invited guests and all the Rotarians that attended the event.
