The Director General Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu has identified youth empowerment and poverty alleviation as key drivers to sustainable peace and Conflict Prevention in Nigeria.
Dr. Ochogwu made the identification in Abuja while unveiling 2024 Strategic Conflict Assessment publication in Nigeria.
The publication, according to the Director -General is an evidence based research on violent conflict trends in Nigeria, the dynamics, history and enablers across the 36 states and the FCT.
“Youth unemployment, rural poverty and intergenerational disconnect have driven both participation in violence and disillusionment with State Institutions”, he added.
He further stated that violence is widespread, complex and evolving which spans from terrorism in the North -East to separatist in the South- East, banditry in the North -West and Farmers herders’s conflicts in the North -Central.
He also identified the need to empower the local government system to bridge infrastructural gaps and deficit which sometimes hinder prompt response to violent conflicts.
Dr. Ochogwu commended the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar for their unwavering support and the enabling environment for research to thrive.
He then urged the Government and State holders to deploy more of non- kinetic approaches in terms of governance, community mobilization, livelihood engagement and youth empowerment to achieve sustainable peace.
In her remarks, the lead Coordinator of the Report, Dr. Bosede Awodola stated that the report is a comprehensive and well researched document that looked critically into the various aspects of conflicts and insecurity and how it has impacted on Nigerians.
Signed
Josephine Ademu
Head, Information and Public Relations.
1/8/2025.
