Partners for Peace Network (P4P) is a Network whose mission is geared towards building social capital around peace building by amplifying the voice of positive actors, building a core network of self-identified agents of peace, and leveraging the network through facilitation, small grants, and capacity building. P4P’s vision is dedicated to promoting sustainable peaceable livelihoods in the Niger Delta through voices, action, and network.
P4P is a platform where local peace actors with different backgrounds and perspectives come together to understand and address the root causes of conflict in their locality and build peace. We established, support and facilitate P4P’s projects.
A Brief of P4P’s Success Stories in 2016
Since inception, P4P State Chapters have continued to record amazing success in their activities and efforts to build sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. We greatly believe that her activities will greatly enhance the lives of many Nigerians in the Niger Delta region.
Below are a few recorded among the numerous successes between the periods of July – September, 2016.
Promoting Mechanized Agriculture in Abia State.
Agriculture is new oil and a huge source of economic mainstay in Nigeria. And to effectively enjoy its full benefits, P4P believes that Nigerian farmers must be greatly equipped with the right skills and the right technical tools for maximum and commercial productivity. It is in this regard that the Abia State P4P visited Avonkwu Community in Isieke, Umuahia North LGA, in the month of September, where they had a community session and conducted a practical demonstration of a mechanized Oil Palm Harvester to community leaders and farmers.
The mechanized Oil Palm Harvester would enhance the effectiveness of the farmers, and increase their productivity. Witnessing the efficiency of this new tool, the community leaders welcomed the idea of purchasing the mechanized oil palm harvesters and promised to purchase the machine for their people.
With this new development, farmers in the community relished the idea of owning mechanized tools. Some farmers we spoke to told us that it has been a lifelong dream of having mechanized farm equipment to work on their farms. They thanked P4P for coming to their communities, and pledged commitment to support them in any way they can.
Workshop for Youths in Akwa-Ibom State
The future of Nigeria is in the hands of its young people. Statistics have consistently shown the majority of the Nigerian population is the youths. And, to get the best out of the Nigerian youths, we believe that they must be trained and equipped with the right educational, technical and economic skills for the future.
It is in this regard that In August, the Akwa Ibom State P4P, in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), conducted a workshop for youths on developing indigenous capacity in the Nigeria Oil & Gas industry in Essien Udim LGA. This workshop gathered over 100 youths across the local government area and the state.
Speaking to some youths in the program, they expressed utmost joy and satisfaction for participating in the event. They promise they would put the skills learnt in the workshop to good use for the betterment of the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria.
Intensifying Media Campaigns in Bayelsa State
Over the years, our relationship with the media has been an amazing and cordial one. The media have helped in promoting most of P4P’s core activities to the general public. They have also made P4P significant and appreciated by the general public. To intensify and amplify this relationship with the media, the Bayelsa State P4P, visited our media partners – the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) and Bayelsa State Radio Corporation In September.
These visits were made to promote the activities of P4P Network in Bayelsa State through media campaigns.
Promoting Peace in Cross River State
The true beauty of every nation lies in how peaceful she is. And, in Nigeria, peaceful co-existence is needed for the rapid development that is being sought for. Without peace, there would be no sustainable development and structured empowerment in Nigerian states and Local Governments.
To fully demonstrate the importance of peace in the society, the Cross River State P4P, in collaboration with the office of the State Security Adviser and other NGOs, marked the International World Peace Day in the State with a 5km walk from Mary Slessor roundabout to Leopard Town roundabout.
At the end of the peace walk, participants signed a peace communique which was sent to the Cross Rivers State Government. The communique urged the Government to effectively monitor and use early warning signs of violent conflicts to mitigate conflict reoccurrence in the state, build strong institutions that will curb gender inequality, and also deploy transparency, inclusiveness, accountability, policy coherence, and implementation of previous peace & reconciliatory recommendations to tackle emerging conflicts.
Participants at the Peace walk event were excited. They promised to hold onto peaceful approaches to issues in every facet of their lives. They also promised to institute peace and harmonious coexistence in their homes and relationship with others.
Addressing the Cause of Violence in Rivers State
No community has ever climbed into the pedestal of real development in the presence of ethnic violence and communal clashes. And violence has never created a sane and prosperous society. This was the reason behind the three Town Hall Meetings on Community-Based Peace building in Ogu/Bolo, Emohua, and Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni LGAs held by the Rivers State P4P in September.
The town hall meetings were aimed at finding the remote causes of violence, establishing ways to achieve lasting peace and establishing P4P volunteers and platform in the areas. Therein the town hall meetings, many people volunteered to be part of the P4P Network so they could become true agents of peace in their various communities.
At the end of the meetings, the participating youths decried their previous lives and pledged to uphold peace in their communities. The new peace volunteers also declared to be the new faces of peace in their various communities.
We believe this is the beginning of trans-generational peace in Ogu/Bolo, Emohua, and Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni local government areas.
Walking for Peace in Delta State
In September 21st, the Delta State P4P also marked the International World Peace Day with a Peace walk rally. The rally started from DBS to Ekpan community estate to Okere community and then back to DBS premises. The rally was aimed at encouraging the populace to maintain peace in their homes, and communities.
Participants at the Peace Walk discussed the importance of peace to the economic development of the state. They also promised to uphold peace in their various communities and families.
P4P’s Media Intervention Program
P4P is committed to promoting peace in the Niger Delta through media platforms. In September, we supported media campaign programs in Abia and Delta State P4P chapters.
Abia P4P conducted a live Radio/TV program on the need for building sustainable Peace in the State. The broadcast was made on Vision Africa Radio 104.1 FM and Broadcasting Corporation (BCA) of Abia State Television respectively.
Delta P4P conducted a Radio/TV program on Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) and Delta Rainbow Television Warri respectively. They focused on three topics: The Role of Women in Peace building and Conflict Prevention, Mindset Change as Vehicle for Sustained Peace and Development in Delta State, and Poverty, Sustainable Livelihood Systems and Peace in Delta State.
P4P’s Membership Growth
P4P Membership growth has continuously been on the rise. The Network soared from a record of 4,431 members to 4,581 members between the months of June and September 2016, making an aggregate of members of which 38% are females and 62% are males, with a total of 659 organizational members.
P4P’s ICT and Social Media Platforms
P4P’s ICT and Social Media channels have been her strongholds of information dissemination. Members of the P4P platform interact in a lively social media space. The P4P Facebook Page has active 4,209 followers. Each chapter also has their own Facebook Page.
Presently, P4P’s Twitter Page has 660 active followers with over 860 tweets. Data on conflict trends and the locations of peace agents in the Niger Delta is collated and presented on the Peace Map for better scoping, networking, and analysis.
Through P4P network, we will keep planting the message of sustainable peace, rapid development and increased prosperity across the Niger Delta. We believe through our vision, the area will turn Nigeria into one of the most prosperous nations in Africa.
