Conflicts continue to remain the key limitations to peace and growth in the Niger Delta. This calls for more coordinated, operational-level support through grassroots-based peacebuilding and conflict early warning systems that can respond quickly in a targeted manner to rapidly changing conflict dynamics and longer-term peacebuilding needs.
Given this, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) facilitated the third (3rd) cohort of its Niger Delta Peace Champions program which brought together young people that are enthusiastic about supporting existing peacebuilding infrastructures and implementing solutions to conflicts in their communities. A total of 90 persons ranging from 18 to 35 years old were selected from a pool of over 700 applicants who showed interest in joining the third (2024) cohort of the program. Ten participants were selected from each Niger Delta state.
Since the inception of the Peace Champions program in 2022, over 270 young persons have been trained and mentored to contribute to peacebuilding and development in the Niger Delta. Adopting targeted interventions like the Peace Champions program is a strategy that young people can employ to counter violent extremism, promote peace and security locally and regionally, and make their voices heard in mainstream and social media.
During the training which was held at four different locations (Benin City, Port Harcourt, Uyo, and Warri) in March 2024, the Peace Champions were introduced to PIND’s conflict Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) system and trained on how to send messages to PIND’s Integrated Peace and Development Unit’s (IPDU) SMS-based EWER platform on a real-time basis. They were also trained in different peacebuilding modules, including leadership, volunteerism, mindset change, conflict management, and analysis. Given PIND’s inclusive policy, a sign language interpreter was available for effective communication for Peace Champions with hearing impairments who were part of the training.
The training created an opportunity for the participants to gain new knowledge and share ideas that will enable them to contribute to peace and development in their communities. They will also join a network of young people and leaders who are creating a paradigm shift in the way the world interacts with and understands peace.
At the end of the 2024 cohort, the capacity of the participants in peacebuilding, and conflict EWER will be built to report verified conflict early warning information to PIND’s IPDU SMS-based platform. They will also voluntarily carry out peacebuilding interventions in their communities or workplaces. PIND believes that peacebuilding knowledge and the understanding of an early warning reporting system would ensure a proactive response to emerging conflict issues through peace messaging, early warning/analysis, mediation, and consensus-building by local stakeholders and partners.
