A Non-Governmental organisation, Association for a Better Society (ASBESOC), has launched a peace-building and behavioural change initiative aimed at addressing insecurity and poverty across communities.

The programme, which forms part of the organisation’s Potential Entrepreneurs Project (PEP), was conceived following the realisation that peace remains the foundation for economic development.

The founder of ASBESOC, Dr Elias Chibuike Igwe, said insecurity and conflict had continued to discourage business activities and social progress in Nigeria, stressing that the intervention became necessary to restore order in communities.

Igwe spoke while inaugurating the Peace Building and Behavioural Change Programme at Abor community in Udi Local Council of Enugu State.

He said the initiative was designed to promote peace, positive behavioural change and economic empowerment across communities.

According to him, the organisation decided to begin the programme in Abor community before extending it to other communities and clusters across the state.

“We are introducing what we call the Peace Building and Behavioural Change Programme, which we are trying to introduce in every community to ensure that there is peace in our communities and to empower the people. From here, we will move beyond this community to other communities and clusters.

“We gathered people together to train them on how they should behave to achieve positive outcomes and build peace. Some people do not know that the way they behave brings negative things back to them. That is what we are trying to introduce, where we train them in integrity, human rights and other areas. The book we launched today is a compilation of all the courses and materials we are going to use to train them,” he said.

Igwe disclosed that the organisation had already assembled trainers who would begin a three-day intensive training programme for participants before the commencement of the entrepreneurship phase of the project.

He stressed that peace remained the foundation for economic development, warning that insecurity and conflict discourage business and social progress.

“This project is where we groom and build entrepreneurs. We found out that financial institutions do not give start-up funds to entrepreneurs. We are trying, as an NGO, to see how we can help, especially the downtrodden, to raise small money to start small businesses.

“We promised to give them N200,000 at the end of ten months. They can pool the money together as a group to establish a small-scale industry or any meaningful venture that will help their livelihood. That is what we want to introduce here and in other communities,” he stated.

Also speaking, Stephen Obi, who represented the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), commended the initiative, saying empowerment was critical in the fight against corruption and social vices.

“It is good that he is empowering his people positively. You know, when people are not empowered positively in a community, in the area where we are partnering with him, we cannot do anything because you do not come to a community and begin to speak about corruption when people are not empowered positively. Nobody will give you a listening ear.

“So, I want to give you this assurance that the commission will continue to partner with you. In areas where you have this kind of gathering and you want us to come and speak about the fight against corruption, the commission is ever willing to do that for you,” he said.

The traditional ruler of Abor community, His Royal Majesty Igwe Chukwudi Ngwudile, described the initiative as a major step towards the development and peaceful coexistence of the area.

“This is a great thing for our community, Abor. Anyone who wants peace wants the progress of the community. If there is peace in our families, villages and communities, there will be progress.

“We are happy that our son brought this to our community. We thank our son very much for the ideas he keeps bringing to our community. We will keep supporting him so that he will achieve his aim in this project,” the monarch said.