Niger Delta Peace Advocates Converged for Transformative Dialogue, EWER Peace Facilitation Training in Port Harcourt
Peace facilitators under the aegis of State Peace Architectures from Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers converged on Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital for a week long training on “Transformative Dialogue, Early Warning and Early Response System.”
The training was facilitated by an International Non-Government Organization (NGO) Search For Common Ground (SFCG) with funding from European Union, and partners from the Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN) and Foundation for Partnership in Niger Delta (PIND).
Participants had hands-on practical sessions with candid interactions from resource persons comprising Mrs Emmanuella Atsen; Dr Philip Kalio, and Mr Tosin Adebayo, who anchored ten sessions with modules on “Early Warning, Early Response;” “Transformative Dialogue Tools and Types” and “Risk Assessment; Conflict Analysis, mediation, and Interventions,” amongst others.
Addressing participants at the closing session, lead facilitator and Programme Quality Specialist (PQS) of SFCG, Mrs Atsen, charged delegates on the need to put to practice what have been shared in order to change the narrative of the Niger Delta towards peace with successful dialogues and mediation.
“As peace facilitators, you have been equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to sustain peace and quell any possible threats to peace and conflict resolution in the Niger Delta.” Atsen stated.
Chairman of the Rivers State Peace Architecture, (RSPA) Hon. Charles Beke, who hosted the delegates after the close of session, expressed delight at the transformation the training had on delegates appreciating SFCG and partners for their investments on peace building towards transforming criminality and violence in the Niger Delta dubbed “The CRIM-VIN project.”
“This is a clear testament of the will of purpose,deliberate attempt through a common purpose to build a sustainable legacy through peace in the Niger Delta region. Without peace, development is put on the reverse gear and the challenge of putting the region on the right pedestal, rest on us all” Hon. Beke concluded.
Secretary of the Bayelsa State Peace Architecture (BSPA) Dr Preye Inebaraton and his Delta State counterpart, (DSPA) Mr Julius Erhaye, both spoke on behalf of state delegates, were elated at the opportunities of peace building, mediation, facilitation and EWER interventions.
“We are beginning to see the need for the region to take the issue of peace seriously, the investment by Search for Common Ground is huge using the bottom top model, we should prepare a clear cut mechanism to support, sustain and seal the drive for sustainable peace in the region beginning from Rivers State” The State Peace Architecture leaders concluded.
They shared their common resolve to deploy the EWER Transformative Dialogue Tool to nip emerging conflict at the bud to save human and materials resources.
The training involved several group discussions, formulation of state’s action plan on EWER; experience sharing and hands-on practical session on peace facilation amongst others.
