BREAKING NEWS: NDDC Advocates Sensitises Stakeholders On ADR

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has advocated sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region, sensitizing critical stakeholders on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).. .. Read ..Full.. Article..

The commission in a one-day capacity building workshop for Niger Delta stakeholders on Alternative Dispute Resolution and Inclusive Peace and Sustainable Development, emphasised the importance of peace in engendering the much needed development in the region.

Declaring the workshop themed “Fostering Lasting Peace Through ADR: Lessons From The Past, Building Future Opportunities To Advance The Renewed Hope Agenda,” open, the Manager Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said without peace, development would be hampered.

Ogbuku who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Rev. Julius Oworibo, noted that the commission under his watch prefers dialogue against threats and intimidation, urging the participants to spread the NDDC mantra peace to the nooks and crannies of the region.

He said, “Today, we are here gathered in this capacity building workshop for stakeholders in the region on how we can manage ourselves to be peaceful because without peace development will not come our way.

“Recently, NDDC has been commissioning projects in different states of the region and this is possible because of the peace being observed among different youths, different women and elders in our communities.

“Without that peace, things will not go forward, so we are here to reinforce the saying that peace must be present for development to be achieved.

“I’m impressed with the array of leaders gathered here to say how do we go about keeping this peace that has come to us, the days of we no go gree are over. Here in NDDC, we now prefer people who dialogue, than those who threaten us.

“As leaders in your own right, my appeal to you this morning is to take the message here back to your various communities, clans and see that peace continues reigning,” Ogbuku added.

Also speaking, the Acting Director, Department of Dispute and Conflict Resolution, NDDC, Barr Godwin Ayewumi Ogbedegbe said the essence of the workshop is to enhance enhance the potentials of alternative dispute resolution, ADR, as a critical instrument for sustaining peace.

Ogbedegbe added that the aim of the programme is also to leverage on ADR in achieving intangible peaceful and prosperous outcomes for communities that have borne the brunt of conflict for too long.

He said, “Today, we gather with a shared commitment to enhance the power of alternative dispute resolution, ADR, as a critical instrument for sustaining peace, unlocking development and advancing the renewed hope agenda and economic reform agenda of Mr. President across the Niger Delta and beyond.

“We stand at a consequential moment in our national journey. The theme before us “Fostering Lasting Peace Through ADR: Lessons From The Past, Building Future Opportunities To Advance The Renewed Hope Agenda” calls us to reflect deeply on what has worked, what must be reinforced, and how we can leverage ADR to translate policy intentions into intangible peaceful and prosperous outcomes for communities that have borne the brunt of conflict for too long.

“I intend to reflect my MD/ CEO’s quote that anchors our discourse today, that the renewed hope and economic reform agenda of Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a social contract in the form of induction we entered in NDDC with the commitment of ensuring the vision of the renewed hope agenda, and..  Read . .More