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You are here: > The Issues > Community development and empowerment > Peace building workshop

Peace building workshop

Collective meeting
The participants were satisfied; having fully interacted among themselves and adopted an agenda which, if implemented, will surely reduce the conflict and create a peaceful atmosphere for sustainable development to thrive.

Outline

Two day collective meeting of trained youths and womens leaders from selected communities in the Niger Delta. Organised by SDN with partner organisations on 25-26th August 2008.

Objective

  • To encourage team work in the effort to build peace in the Niger Delta

  • To bring to the understanding of all the theme of the project they have been working on.

  • To harmonize all the suggested solutions to the problems in the Niger Delta and above all,

  • To adopt a blueprint for peace in the Niger Delta.

"My community witnessed one of the worst conflicts in the Niger Delta. The problem was a political problem, a violation of zoning right in the community. The killings and destructions were such that at a time everybody became mad and were ready to react at any giving time. Thanks to the activities of CEHRD in my community, the youths were able to recognize the supremacy of dialogue over violence in addressing issues. Secondly, the youths also learnt from the non-violent struggle of MOSOP that violence does not pay. I am very grateful that the youths now know the value of dialogue in settling conflict "

AKPAADEE F. NGBO, from Tayork community in khana LGA narrating his experience.

Outcome: Recommendations to key stakeholders from youth group

TO COMMUNITIES

  • Chiefs and elders should enact and implement laws to guide behavior of the rural people.

  • Crimes and criminality should not be encouraged.

  • Those in leadership position be accountable to the people.

TO GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS

  • Government should create jobs for the people of the Niger Delta.

  • Government should be accountable and transparent in all their dealings.

  • Community development should be given a priority.

  • Access to free and compulsory quality education at all levels to the people of the Niger Delta.

  • Provision of affordable housing to the people of the Niger Delta.

  • Provision of portable water.

TO OIL COMPANIES

  • Carry out environmental impact assessments before any project is carried out.

  • Should respect and implement MOUs.

  • Award scholarship to indigenes.

  • Provide job opportunity for the people.

  • Corporate social responsibilities should be carried out to develop the rural communities.

  • Contracts should be given to the indigenous people.

TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

  • Should not be bias on issues affecting the Niger Delta.

  • Be a watch dog on human rights abuses in the Niger Delta

  • Stop buying stolen oil and supply of arms to the Niger Delta.

TO NGOS

  • NGOs should carry out periodic value re-orientation programs in the Niger Delta.

  • Partner with the people on peace building.

  • Should help link the people to better job opportunities.

"I am happy to be in our midst, the knowledge gained from our training gave us boldness and knowledge that helped us detect violence and stop it before it become full blown. During my youth days, I used to be a good fighter but the knowledge of peace building has humbled me. Besini community is known for crisis to the extent that visitors are always scared from the community. I am appealing that peace match be organized in Besini and women should be involved"

MRS MIRIAM ABUSI, from Besini community in Bayelsa state sharing her conflict experience.

Outcome: Recommendations to key stakeholders from womens group

TO COMMUNITIES

  • The chiefs should call the youths to order.

  • Provide security to properties.

  • Chiefs and the elders should be transparent in all their dealings.

  • Communities should be united against crime.

  • Communities should know their rights.

TO GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS

  • Provide scholarship for Niger Delta indigenes

  • Re-address unfavorable policies to the communities.

  • Provide job opportunities for the women and the youths.

  • Provide security to life and properties.

  • Women should be empowered.

  • Girl-child education should be given a priority.

  • Improve health care delivery services in rural communities.

  • Welfare schemes for widows in the Niger Delta.

  • Provide social amenities for Niger Delta communities.

TO MULTI- NATIONAL OIL COMPANIES

  • Stop divide and rule tactics in host communities.

  • Pay adequate compensation for oil spills and pollution.

  • Implement MOUs signed with host communities.

  • Provide micro credit for women in Niger Delta communities.

  • Provide scholarship for indigenes of the host communities.

TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

  • Stop supplying arms to the Niger delta.

  • Give financial and other aids to rural communities in the Niger Delta.

  • Buy oil directly from oil producing communities and stop encouraging oil bunkering.

  • Show empathy to the Niger Delta people and not to the government alone.

  • Promote the activities of women in peace building.

TO NGOS

  • Should come up with more awareness programmes.

  • Mediate between government and rural communities.

  • Advocate for the implementation of the ogomudia report on the Niger Delta.

  • Create a forum where the Niger Delta regional development plans be interpreted to the rural people.

  • NGOS should support rural communities with fund.