Media group hosts summit on peace building

Worried by the growing ethnic suspicion in Nigeria, leaders of ethnic groups and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) will meet in Lagos to create an effective mechanism for conflict prevention and peacebuilding on Tuesday, July 30.

The meeting, organised by Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER) and the United States based International Institute for Education (IIE), is aimed at conflict prevention and peacebuilding. A statement by the group’s Executive Director, Mr. Adewale Adeoye said the forum would explore potentials for peace in “a festering atmosphere of fear and trembling.”

He said the summit marks the beginning of series of activities lined up to deepen peaceful co-existence and democracy. The summit, he said, is coming at a critical moment in Nigeria’s history, when the country is battling the crisis of identity and a floundering panacea to potential conflict.

The guest speakers are retired university history teacher and former Second Republic Senator, Prof Adebanji Akintoye; Mr. Malachy Ukwumadu; Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana and a chieftain of Arewa Youth Consultative Council (AYCF) Mr. Kudu Abubakar, among others.

The summit, JODER said is one in a series of activities, which include advocacy for peace, training on conflict prevention, peace building mechanism and media outreach.