By Archibong Jeremiah
Consortium for Conflict Resolution and Development (CONCORD) Initiative, a network of state and non-state actors operating in the early warning, early response, and peacebuilding sector has been flagged off in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The network will serve as a community of practice and fulcrum of a national peace architecture with the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE) as its coordinating secretariat.
Declaring the zonal workshop the first out of 11 zones open, the Secretary to the Cross River State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Eno said he is delighted to host the event.
“What you are here for is important to our state as part of Nigeria. We are delighted to have you,” he maintained. He posited that a peaceful Nigeria is possible.
The event was held at Monty Suits, 25th-27th July 2023 and it had six sessions and deep dive technical sessions.
Early Warning Signals and Early Response for Peace and Security: The CONCORD Initiative was presented by Mr. Chris Ngwodo, DG of OSPRE.
Defining an Agenda for Peace in Nigeria was taken by Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, Director General, Institute for Peace, and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).
Prof. Oshita Oshita, Executive Director of Ubuntu Centre for Africa Peacebuilding and Development (UCAP) delivered a brief on Cross River and Akwa Ibom States Peace and Security Environment.
On Boundary Conflicts in Cross River and Akwa Ibom: Options for Resolution and Peace Dr. Farouk Tarfa of the National Boundary Commission spoke.
Mr. Joseph Lengmang presented the coordination of Multistakeholder Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Processes.
On the Use of Technology for Coordination of Early Warning, Early Response, and Peacebuilding, Zigwai Ayuba presented.
Building and Strengthening Peacebuilding Processes was delivered by Mr. Joseph Lengmang.
CONCORD seeks to establish sub-national clusters of early warning, early response, and peacebuilding actors as part of its mission.