Youths have been identified as catalysts and holding the key to peace building and social cohesion in any country.
Prof. Chris Kwaja, the Country Director of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) made this assertion during a workshop organized by the Institute and Security, Violence and Conflict Research group (SVCRG) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in collaboration with the Department of Political Science of the institution for youths in the South East.
Speaking on the theme, ‘The Role of the Youths in Peace Building and Social Cohesion in South East, Nigeria’, Kwaja said youths in the geopolitical zone hold the key to peace building and social cohesion not just because of their numbers but because of their energy, creativity and determination.
According to him, “as a demographic group, the youths have the potential and capacity to reshape the society.”
To that end, it is, therefore, necessary to encourage them to channel their energy and creativity towards unity, peace and progress not only in their immediate communities but also in their States of domicile and the country as a whole, Kwaja added.
The USIP Country Director stressed that since youths share common aspirations, synergy among them across the country will help to achieve national cohesion and unity that Nigeria desperately needs, noting that when young people across the country unite and work together, they will create stronger bonds, foster understanding and build a more united and prosperous country.
Kwaja assured of USIP’s continued support and commitment to initiatives such as the one championed by SVCRG and the Department of Political Science, UNN.
In his remarks, Prof Chidi Nzeadibe, UNN’s Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences, said the research group discovered a gap in policy and intervention in the voice of youths not being heard, hence the need to hear their voice in line with SDG number 16, which stresses peace and justice.
Nzeadibe who is also a member of the SVCRG, commended the USIP for its support to the research group and urged the institute to sustain the support towards ensuring that youths are integrated into peace building and social cohesion effort in the country.
The Dean urged youths in the country to always ensure that they contribute their quota to peace building and social cohesion in order to achieve a better society.
Prof. Freedom Onuoha, the coordinator of SVCRG research group, UNN, said the workshop was designed to engage and educate youths in the South East on their role in peace building and community cohesion, adding that the research group had conducted very important studies over time on security, violence and conflict in the South East, which informed their programming and interventions and advocacy.
Onuoha commended the USIP for its collaboration and sponsorship as well as its efforts to prevent, mitigate and resolve violent conflicts in Africa and South East, Nigeria in particular.
He assured that the workshop will interrogate and intervene in the lack of voice of the youths in how conflicts are impacting them and also in what role they can play in peace building and social cohesion.
The Head, Department of Political Science of the premier university, Prof Peter Mba, commended the organisers of the workshop for their effort, pointing out that it came at a time when there is tension in the country over government’s economic policies, and pledged the department’s continued support and collaboration with the organisers.
Dr Chikodiri Nwangwu, a Post Doctorate Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa in a paper titled, ‘Youth, Peace and Security Agenda: The Role of Youths in Peace Building in South East’, urged Governors in the zone to promote youth participation in governance through economic empowerment, capacity building and mentorship as well as special quota for youths for elective and appointment positions.
He called for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a way of reducing tension in the South East.
Dr Obioma Chike Okenyi of the Institute of Peace, Conflict and Development Studies, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, presented a paper titled, ‘Understanding Conflicts and Peace Building in the South East from a Gender Lens’, while Prof Gerald Ezirim, programme lead of SVCRG also presented a paper titled, ‘Youths Experience with Conflict and Peace Building in the South East: An Experience Sharing Opportunities for Youths Across Conflict – Affected Communities in the Region’.
Some of the youths who participated in the one-day workshop appreciated the organisers for teaching them how they can contribute to peace-building, conflict resolution and social cohesion in their respective communities without recourse to violence.
Chris Kwaja, USIP Country Director
