By Tom Idoko
It is a truism that feelings of hatred, interfaith acrimony, bitterness, aggression, terrorism and violent conflicts in almost all countries of the world have become the order of the day. With the increase in conflicts in Africa and internal communal and ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria in the last two decades, conflict resolution and prevention becomes an important lexicon. Therefore, in the year 2000, the Federal Government of Nigeria established the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR). The Institute was formed as a think tank for government on matters of domestic and regional peace building and conflict management to facilitate national and international integration.
The IPCR since inception 17 years ago has been involved in the conduct of in-depth research into the causative factors of violent conflicts in Nigeria and Africa. In partnership with government and nongovernmental actors, it has engaged in field activities for the prevention and management of conflicts in Nigeria and Africa.
On assumption of duties on the 8th of August, 2014, the Director General, Professor Oshita O. Oshita, fspsp conceptualized a developmental philosophy. He quickly swung into action and addressed the cross-cutting issues of peace building, violent conflict and insecurity through research and other interventions.
The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolutions contributed immensely to positive messaging for violent free 2015 general elections. The election conflict management activities of IPCR include the bi-monthly convening of Peace and Security Forum (PSF), involving representatives of security agencies, civil society groups, and strategic government agencies, with support from the Nigerian Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP). The Institute hosted the National Leaders Dinner for Peaceful Elections in 2015, and embarked on massive stakeholders meetings. IPCR in collaboration with UNDP Organized workshops on Conflict Prevention and Peace building in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. It also involved in the production of information, education and communication (IEC) materials on peaceful elections, circulated across the country. Hosting strategic workshop on Citizens and Elections, participated actively as member of National Peace Committee (NPC), and participated as observers in the 2015 Presidential elections, where the IPCR Early Warning and Early Response Centre hub was successfully tested. These were significant achievements of Professor Oshita Oshita.
Professor Oshita also conceptualized the noble idea of Infrastructure for Peace (I4P) in Nigeria. The idea was to have a comprehensive and over-arching design framework for understanding, describing and implementing the various components of peace infrastructure. The Infrastructure for Peace in Nigeria include , among others, early warning, peace building, conflict management, capacity building, mediation, post conflict peace building and reconstruction.
In its effort to key into the change agenda of the Buhari’s administration, which is aimed at bringing peace to all troubled communities, IPCR on March 2016 constituted a strong fact finding team of peace experts and other stakeholders to Benue state to do on-the-spot assessment of the crisis situation. The main aim of the initiative was to interface with the people affected by the conflicts, and return harmony to the warring towns. The team of experts led by Professor Oshita has also visited other states to find lasting solution to the perennial crisis engulfing the states. They held town meetings, advocacy, and bringing together warring communities to air their grievances. His effort has paid off as relative peace has returned to most part of the warring communities.
Staff training and re-training is a major focus of the IPCR to build a specialized and professional workforce, and to providing training to government agencies, private sector, civil society actors and security agencies in specialized areas of need. Therefore, Professor Oshita prioritizes training and capacity building in the Institute’s Peace Academy. IPCR staff and other government and nongovernmental actors have benefitted from training on Mediation, Alternative Conflict Resolution (ADR), and other areas. In 2016, the Institute trained about 150 journalists on ‘’ Conflict Sensitive Reporting for National Development’’. The idea was to enhance peaceful coexistence in the nation through conflict sensitive reporting.
The IPCR which conducted the first Strategic Conflict Assessment (SCA) in 2003, and updated in 2008 and 2012 in view of the changing conflict dynamics in Nigeria, has several publications on peace, conflict prevention and resolution. Manuscripts titled, Case Studies of Traditional Methods of Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Nigeria, Journal of Conflict Early Warning and Early Response Vol. 1 No. 1 December2015, Policy Brief on Boko Haram and Education (2015), and Emerging Security Threats in the Federal Capital Territory (2016)
As professor Oshita rightly asserted “to prevent violence tomorrow, let us plan for peace today’’. Nigerians should support the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, for lasting peace and development. Thomas Hobbes once said “the first fundamental law of nature is to seek peace and follow it.’’
