The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has affirmed the commitment of its personnel to promoting communal harmony and peaceful co-existence across the communities in the Niger Delta region.
The Acting Director, Department of Dispute and Conflict Resolution (DCR) of the NNDC, Goddy Ogedegbe Ayewumi, disclosed this at a three-day capacity building retreat for personnel of the department and other strategic stakeholders of the commission in Lagos.
He said the retreat was a demonstration of the commitment of the leadership of the commission’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku to sustain the existing peace and stability in the Niger Delta region, which is an important precondition for development.
The retreat with the theme: “Communal Dispute in the Niger Delta Region: The role of NDDC Staff in promoting peaceful resolution”, facilitated by Development Projects (PEDEP) featured presentations on sub-themes: “Peace as a Multi-Stakeholder Enterprise” by Mr. Jide Ojo of OJA Development Consult; and “Communication and Interpersonal Conflict Management-Interpersonal Self Awareness: A Power Perspective,” by Professor Abigail Odozi Ogwezzy, Director, Institute Of Continuing Education (ICE), University of Lagos.
Others are: “The Niger Delta and the Imperative of Multi-Track Diplomacy,” by Dr. Tunde Akanni of the Department of Mass Communication, Lagos State University (LASU) and “Goal Setting Agenda for Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution at the Community level,” by Osaze Lanre Nosaze, Director, Project works of Xtrimedia and Francis Abayomi, Director, PEDEP.
In his welcome address, the Director of PEDEP, Abayomi reiterated the imperative of requisite knowledge and skills for personnel, charged with responsibilities of implementing the intervention mandate of the NDDC.
He commended the commission for prioritising capacity building for personnel of the DCR, which elaborately speaks to the proactiveness of the current leadership of the NDDC.
While declaring the retreat open, the representative of the MD/CEO and the Special Assistant Legal, Mr. Ochu Chukwuma urged personnel of the DCR and the strategic NDDC staff at the retreat to make effective use of additional knowledge and skills acquired to consolidate on the peace process across communities in the region.
The retreat also featured a tour of the yet to be commissioned Lagos Museum (JK Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History) conducted by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
The tour helped the participants appreciate the influence of cultural beliefs and tradition. More importantly, it provides them deep insights into how knowledge of the history, beliefs and tradition of communities can help prevent and or resolve communal disputes in order to facilitate an effective developmental drive to the different parts of the Niger Delta.
The visit also encouraged unity and collaboration between the NDDC and the Lagos State government in the development of culture and tourism in Nigeria.
After the visit, it was resolved that the drivers of development must understand the ways of life and historical beliefs of the communities/people who are direct beneficiaries of development.
