The Senior Management Staff of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has emphasized the need for the Nigerian Government to quickly convene a National Peace Summit with a view to addressing the spate of conflicts in parts of Nigeria.
The observation formed part of the Nasarawa Declaration 2015 endorsed at the 2-day training workshop attended by researchers and Senior Management Staff of the (IPCR) in Nasarawa State and organized in conjunction with the Centre for Corporate and Systems Studies (CENTAS) Trainers at the Royal Dream Hotel, Mararaba in Nasarawa State.
The release from the Publicity Unit of IPCR on Wednesday December 23, 2015 noted that the workshop called on the Nigerian Government to expedite action towards endorsing the Draft National Peace Policy to support the peace infrastructure for strengthening of the national peace architecture and conflict management in Nigeria. The participants also directed Government attention to the need to activate the Peace Fund contained in the Draft National Peace Policy to guarantee funding in support of sustainable peace and national security management in the country.
The resolution reiterated the call for the Federal Government to fund the IPCR and to conduct more empirical researches for pragmatic interventions in conflict spots as well as flashpoints in the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
In his keynote address delivered at the occasion, the Director – General of IPCR, Oshita Oshita (Professor) appreciated the individuals, groups and organizations which have been engaged in promoting peace, resolving conflicts and boosting security in the country. He added that the issues of peace, conflict and security demand the commitment of all and sundry, explaining the need for IPCR to help in building the professional capacities of individuals and organizations involved in intervention better approach to handling of issues.
Oshita Oshita further informed that the training programme was a process of building the capacity of the management staff and researchers in IPCR to enhance their efficiency and provide opportunity to for them to re-assess the core values of IPCR and the performance of its mandates, in spite of the recurring challenge posed by poor funding. According to him, the Action Plan for 2016 in the IPCR will be guided by the “Nasarawa Declaration 2015” and will be driven by the core values of integrity, professionalism, communication and respect for all.
While speaking earlier, the Programme Coordinator of Centass Trainers, Austin A. Ojei noted that the IPCR as the apex agency of the federal government with the sole mandate of promoting peace, robust security, prevention and management of conflict should constantly update its officers because of the dynamic nature of conflicts, in order to develop better ways of resolving conflicts in the country.
The Head of the Department of Economics in the Kaduna State University, Ibrahim Umaru presented a paper titled: “Peace Research and the Resourcing of National Peace Infrastructure in Nigeria.” while “Transparency and Accountability in Policy Formulation and Implementation in Public Service” was treated by a former Acting Permanent Secretary in the State House Department, Abuja, Augustine Nduka Osa-Afiana. Two lead discussants from the institute piloted the dissection of the paper on effective management and motivational leadership for organizational growth in times of austerity discussed by the participants. [IPCR]
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