Abuja (Min. of Youths and Development) – The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has charged Nigerian youths to embrace peace building and conflict resolution as alternate means of resolving conflicts than the current confrontational and violent approach employed in their attempt to settling differences.
The Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare gave this charge at the opening ceremony of a 4 day workshop organised by the Ministry on National Peace Building, Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution at Ibadan the Oyo State Capital.
The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Olusade Adesola said in his speech, that young people all over the world who are vast and experienced in this alternative dispute and resolution mechanism, transform conflict they face into disagreements and disagreements into agreements.
According to him, globally, peace management and resolution of disputes and conflicts is a catalyst to peaceful coexistence, political stability and sustainable socio-economic development of any nation.
He reiterated that youths will be given necessary training to enhance their advocacy and arbitration techniques to enable them act as advocates, initiators, mediators and facilitators of peace process and conflict resolution in the country.
Earlier in his speech, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola who was represented by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Jide Ode Martins, stressed the need to involve the youths who have formed the greater part of the population of the country in the search for enduring peace particularly in our communities.
He said the workshop which had members from the six geo-political zones of the country, is targeted at enhancing the capacity of young people, community, religious youth leaders and other stakeholders to evolve techniques and strategies for resolving disputes and conflicts without resorting to violence.
The Governor of the state, Mr Seyi Makinde who declared the event open, urged youths to emulate the virtues of hard work of our founding fathers who believed in the unity of the nation and worked for her development.
The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Hon. Seun Fakorede said, “The youths are the oasis in our desert of despair, our strength, hope at the stage of hopelessness and every society rely on them for its sustainable human and material resource development.”
He therefore tasked the youths to be pivots of peace through this conflict prevention and management mechanism.
The Speaker of the Nigerian Youths Parliament, Rt. Hon. Mubarak Mijiyawa, the African Union audio voiced, Civil Society Partner from ‘Mind The Gap’, Mr.Tayo Olusunde, all gave goodwill messages.
Amongst the resource persons are, Rtd Permanent Secretary, Dr Abdulahi Aliyu, Prof. Tajudeen Akanji, from UI, Prof Dafe Otobo, from Eastern Palm University in Imo state, Mr Samie Ihejerika, the Executive Directive Strategic Empowerment and Mediation Agency, Abuja and a good number of the youth participants from across the country.
Ulor Chioma.
For : Director Press
