Lasting peace requires more than agreements to end conflict. It depends on trusted relationships, open communication, and the capacity of communities to recognize emerging tensions and address grievances before they escalate.
To strengthen these foundations, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), through the Warri Peace Community Support Initiative (WPCSI), convened a two-day Peace Consolidation and Resilience (PCR) Session in Asaba, Delta State, from October 19–20, 2026, in collaboration with the WPCSI Joint Implementation Committee.
The session brought together representatives of the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities, including signatories to the presidential peace intervention and representatives of women, youth, and community leadership groups. It aimed to consolidate peacebuilding efforts, strengthen inter-ethnic relationships, and translate high-level peace commitments into practical, community-led action in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State. The forum culminated in the inauguration of 30 grassroots Peace Influencers, who will support mediation and peaceful coexistence across the three ethnic nationalities.
Building on Existing Peace Efforts
The PCR Session builds on the first phase of WPCSI, which helped de-escalate tensions surrounding ward delineation in Warri Federal Constituency through stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and public peace messaging.
Phase Two of WPCSI therefore focuses on strengthening relationships among the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo communities and supporting local actors to take a more active role in preventing conflict. The PCR session provided a structured space for representatives of the three ethnic nationalities to exchange perspectives, reflect on shared concerns, and identify practical ways to sustain cooperation. By bringing stakeholders together on neutral ground, the forum encouraged dialogue and collective problem-solving beyond existing divisions.
Delivering remarks on behalf of PIND’s Executive Director, Mr. Sam Ogbemi Daibo, PIND’s Advocacy Manager, Mr. Chuks Ofulue, highlighted the importance of connecting local peace actors to wider response systems.
“Sustainable peace depends on communities having the relationships, skills, platforms, and systems to manage tensions constructively. By connecting these grassroots Peace Influencers the initiative creates a stronger bridge between local information, coordinated action, and timely intervention,” Mr. Ofulue said.
Inaugurating 30 Grassroots Peace Influencers
The session culminated in the inauguration of 30 WPCSI Peace Influencers drawn from the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo communities.
Speaking at the inauguration, Hon. Sylvester Okoh, J.P., Chairman of the WPCSI Board of Trustees, said the initiative marked an important shift from high-level peace commitments to community-led action.
Among those inaugurated were Chief Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, the Alaowei of Warri; Chief Brown Mene, the Ogwa-Olusan of Warri; and Chief Victor Okumagba, the Idjede of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom. They emphasized the importance of unity and collective commitment to peace and development in Warri.
Chief Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor supported the initiative, highlighting the need to unite the three ethnic nationalities, address longstanding grievances, and promote peace and development. Chief Brown Mene urged the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo to embrace peaceful coexistence, noting that unity was essential for sustainable peace and development.
Chief Victor Okumagba also called on the ethnic groups to embrace peace, noting that a peaceful environment would help attract government presence and accelerate development. He described PIND’s intervention as timely, observing that the Warri Federal Constituency delineation issue had persisted for almost three years.
From Dialogue to Practical Peacebuilding
Through group discussions and peer learning, the peace influencers explored the meaning of peace, the factors that sustain it, and the responsibilities of communities in preventing conflict. Discussions highlighted that peace involves more than the absence of violence; it also requires trust, fairness, justice, mutual understanding, and the ability to address grievances constructively.
Participants reflected on how competing interests can strain relationships and why disagreements must be managed through dialogue rather than allowed to escalate. They also considered the roles of community leaders, traditional institutions, women, young people, government, and other stakeholders in creating conditions for peaceful coexistence.
Rather than relying solely on external interventions, participants were encouraged to draw on their knowledge of local realities to identify risks, develop solutions, and agree on actions they could collectively implement.
Sustaining Peace Through Collective Responsibility
The inauguration of the 30 Peace Influencers provides a foundation for continued collaboration among the three ethnic nationalities. Their work will be reinforced through ongoing engagement, coordination, and peer learning, helping them apply their training and strengthen community-level responses to emerging tensions.
Through WPCSI, PIND and its partners are supporting a peacebuilding approach that combines dialogue, local leadership, early warning, and coordinated action. The initiative recognizes that sustainable peace requires communities to have both the relationships and the practical systems needed to address disagreements constructively.
As the Warri peace process moves forward, the continued commitment of community leaders and other stakeholders will be essential to translating shared agreements into everyday practice.
Ultimately, lasting peace depends on communities working together to protect the gains made, address grievances peacefully, and build relationships that support stability and development for all.
