Peace: Key To Sustainable Development In Niger Delta, Says NDDC Boss

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has emphasized the crucial role of peace in achieving sustainable development within the Niger Delta region.

According to a statement released by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, made this assertion during a capacity-building program held in Port Harcourt for Niger Delta stakeholders. The program focused on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Inclusive Peace and Sustainable Development.

Dr. Ogbuku, represented by his Chief of Staff, Rev. Julius Oworibo, stated: “This workshop is designed to equip stakeholders in the region with the tools needed to manage themselves and their relationships effectively.

Without peace, the Commission’s developmental efforts cannot thrive. The NDDC has been commissioning projects in various states within the region, a feat made possible by the peaceful environment fostered by the diverse groups in these states.”

Highlighting the importance of proactive dispute management, he added, “I am impressed by the representation of regional leaders here.

This workshop represents a significant step towards maintaining the existing peace. We are witnessing a symbolic shift from agitation to dialogue. The era of agitation is over; we are now firmly in the era of alternative dispute resolution.”

Barrister Godwin Ogedegbe, the NDDC Acting Director of Dispute and Conflict Resolution, reiterated that alternative dispute resolution is essential for sustainable development.

“We are gathered here with a shared commitment to harness the power of alternative dispute resolution as a critical instrument for sustaining peace, unlocking development, and advancing President’s Renewed Hope Agenda across the Niger Delta and beyond.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is more than just a slogan; it is a social contract, a covenant binding leadership to the people and the nation’s future.

“The theme of this workshop challenges us to reflect deeply on what has worked, what needs reinforcement, and how we can leverage ADR to translate policy intentions into tangible, peaceful, and prosperous outcomes for communities that have borne the brunt of conflict for far too long,” he remarked.

Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, in his keynote presentation, deemed the workshop, themed “Fostering Lasting Peace Through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Lessons from the Past, Building Future Opportunities to Advance the Renewed Hope Agenda in Nigeria,” as both timely and significant.

He explained: “The current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda emphasizes inclusiveness, security, and sustainable development – objectives unattainable without lasting peace. ADR, with its focus on mediation, negotiation, arbitration, and conciliation, provides innovative and culturally relevant tools for addressing the Niger Delta’s conflict landscape.

It not only helps decongest formal courts but also restores relationships, fosters reconciliation, and creates an enabling environment for development.”

Dr. Bridget Osakwe, National Coordinator of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), spoke on the sub-theme: “Deepening a Culture of Dialogue and Mediation: Integrating ADR into Traditional Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Processes.” She underscored the value of blending ADR with traditional methods.

“Integrating ADR with traditional conflict resolution and peacebuilding, particularly by leveraging dialogue and mediation methods, offers a pathway to communities’ trust while improving fairness, inclusion, and follow-through,” she emphasised.