By Patrick Obia
Cross River journalists and peace advocates – Efio-Ita Nyok and Ukorebi Esien have been inducted as Associates of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC).
The duo has been advocates of peacebuilding for a half decade and on Tuesday 29 November was among others honored as associates as part of their roles in peacebuilding in the Niger Delta region of the country.
Expressing gratitude for the feat, they both took to social Facebook to thank Partners for Peace (P4P) in the Niger Delta region of the country for the springboard opportunity.
Ukorebi Esien, publisher of The Daily News and Coordinator of P4P in Cross River said “As Peace Advocate who has been practicing mediation, conciliation, and other Alternative Disputes Resolution strategies across the state through Partners for Peace – Cross River P4P, I have been officially licensed to practice as a Mediator and Conciliator.
“This came after a series of training, teachings, coaching, examinations, and successful mediation practice in land disputes and other interventions within and outside Cross River State.
“Now a licensed chartered mediator to the glory of God. Thank you Partners for PEACE and Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta – PIND for making this happen. #IamORACLE Voice of the Common Man.”
Efio-Ita, publisher of Negroid Haven and member of the Central Working Committee said “Today, I became an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) of Nigeria and so may properly be referred to as ‘Efio-Ita Nyok AICMC,” he said.
He lauded associates, friends, and family for their support of the attainment.
“I thank Partners for Peace Initiative in the Niger Delta (P4P) for the opportunity to volunteer as a social advocate in the peace building-cum-peace management space for the past 5 to 6 years. I also appreciate the Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta, PIND for sponsoring P4P.
“However, I particularly acknowledge Comr. Bassey Edem Mnse for ensuring that I am a member of P4P around 2017 – ete sósóng oooo! Abasi ódion fi eti-eti! Hon Grace Bassey etc for playing a leading role in my emerging member of the Central Working Committee, CWC of P4P.
“I congratulate my fellow chartered associates for wading through the hurdles of attaining this important feat especially Peace Edem, Lateefa Musah, Ukorebi Esien, and Egedegbe Edewor including Rosecollette Ottih, and Kefe Kingsley among others.”
He continued: “I thank God that I am being established in the path of being a consummate peace theorist (philosopher of peace) and practitioner (civil society advocate of peace) –balancing between idea and praxis.
“May our communities/societies including ourselves, families, and associations experience the peace being born out of justice and truth.”