In a strategic move to safeguard community development and foster long-term stability, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) recently concluded a two-day peacebuilding committee meeting, capacity-strengthening, and localization of resilience strategies for the Ugboland Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) Host Community Development Trust (HCDT).
Held from April 22–23, 2026 in Ilaje Local Government Area (LGA), Ondo State, the convening marked a critical step in localizing peace infrastructure within the HCDT governance framework and directly responded to recent conflict risk assessments that identified intra-communal leadership disputes and youth marginalization as significant threats to regional progress.
A Mandate for Community Ownership
As Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs) prepare to execute projects under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), this convening provided a structured forum for the committees to analyze priority peace and security issues within their specific domains. This strategic alignment ensures that HCDT community development plans are protected by a stable and secure environment.
Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of PIND’s Executive Director, Sam Daibo, the Peacebuilding Manager, Dr. David Udofia, challenged participants to see themselves as the architects of their own prosperity. He underscored that these committees are not merely advisory groups but critical pillars of the HCDT governance system.
“This initiative is about equipping communities with the tools and structures they need to manage grievances, prevent conflict, and respond constructively to emerging tensions,” Dr. Udofia stated.
Commending PIND’s efforts in prioritizing peacebuilding in Ugboland, His Royal Majesty Obafemi Ogbaro, the Kabiyesi of Ogbaro Community, charged the committee members to strengthen their capacity to localize solutions. He urged them to make Ugboland a reference point for community-driven peace in the Niger Delta.
Similarly, Commandant Oluyemi O. Ibiloye, the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) , lauded PIND’s indefatigable peacebuilding efforts in Ondo State over the years.
He said, “The Command first engaged with PIND’s work through the Partners for Peace (P4P) Ondo State Chapter. This current project further enhances the effectiveness, coordination, and sustainability of the Ugboland Peacebuilding Committee’s community-based mechanisms for grievance management, conflict prevention, and resilience within the Ugboland HCDT.”
A Multidimensional Approach to Peace and Resilience
The two-day capacity strengthening workshop combined plenary learning with practical breakout sessions, focusing on three core pillars of community stability:
- Peacebuilding, Conflict Management and Analysis sessions were designed to train members in practical applications and sustainability of peacebuilding processes, conflict management approachesand dialogue facilitation to resolve disputes non-violently.
- Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) System Integration by strengthening the link between the committee and PIND’s EWER System, enabling committee members to identify, report and mitigate early warning signs of tension.
- Localization of Resilience Strategies to translate regional priorities into actionable, HCDT-level strategies for social cohesion and environmental preparedness.
Key Outcomes of the Event
The convening was a deliberate investment in systemic resilience. By professionalizing local peace efforts and fostering trust among stakeholders, the initiative aims to:
- Consolidate the Peacebuilding Committee’s role as a standing community-based mechanism within the HCDT structure.
- Empower local leaders and traditional authorities with the technical skills needed to resolve complex disputes on their own.
- Enhance coordination between the committee, local government authorities, security agencies, and the P4P network.
- Localize resilience strategies to protect Ugboland against social, economic, and environmental shocks.
Building on the momentum from the inaugural meeting, the advocacy visit to the NSCDC State Command in Akure, Ondo State, further established a proactive framework to protect critical infrastructure by strengthening community-security relations. By integrating the Ugboland HCDT’s grievance mechanisms with state security agencies, this partnership develops a ‘bottom-up’ approach to conflict resolution.
