1.0.
I like to begin by thanking the organizers of the 2012 Unity Concert
Workshop for inviting me to be the guest speaker at this memorable occasion.
This is certainly a historic occasion, seeing that the youths have taken their
destiny in their hands.
1.1
I understand that part of the objectives of this workshop is to draw the
attention of the world to the peculiar needs of youths and proffer viable
strategies by which entertainment could be used to effect behavioural change
and foster peace and development in Nigeria. The title of this lecture has
operationally been rearranged from “Peace and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria” to
the “Role of Youths in Peace and Conflict Resolution”.
2.0.
CONCEPTUAL ISSUES
Conceptually, a working definition of number of words is crucial for our
discussion. These include: Youth, Peace and Conflict Resolution. Lexically, the
word “Youth” has a number of meanings very relevant to this paper. According to
Chambers 21st Century English Dictionary, a youth is a young person who is
becoming an adult, a boy or girl who is changing rapidly. These marked changes
which come with puberty make the youth act differently, look different and feel
different than he ever has before. According to Wikipedia the free online
Dictionary, Peace and Conflict Resolution is a social science field that identifies
and analyses violent and non-violent behaviours as well as the structural
mechanism attending social conflicts with a view toward understanding those
processes which lead to a more desirable human condition. Peace studies is an
interdisciplinary effort aiming at the prevention, de-escalation and solution to
conflicts by peaceful means, thereby seeking victory for all parties involved in the
conflicts. Conflict situations since Independent Nigeria have been described as
occasioned by resource struggles, harsh economic and social conditions, injustice
and ineptitude and indeed manipulations arising from belief patterns or material
inclinations of people prone to finding sympathy in a conflict situation.
3.0.
THE ROLE OF YOUTHS
3.1
One does not need to stress the importance of Youths as peacemakers, be
it in developing or developed societies. In recognition of the contribution of
youths to the development and growth of nations, 1985 was set by the United
Nations as International year for Youths.
3.2
Nigeria Youths of great potentials constitute about 65% of the nation’s
population. Most youths are patriotic, but this patriotism is driven underground
and impotent by so many forces. He is born with a shovel in his hands while the
privileged few are born with golden spoon in their month. He grows up in a
society where food is eaten with fear of the unknown. But today’s youth should
rise above these challenges and contribute meaningfully through the following
process:
v
v
v
v
v
v
By being law abiding and respectful to the rule of law
Possess natural values of moral dignity
Respect for honest endeavors
Promotion of harmony and unity
Confidence in the use of dialogue for the resolution of conflict
Good education that will endear him to social regeneration, mental
emancipation, economic determination and spiritual balance.
PEACE AND CONFLICT AS A FACT OF LIFE
4.0.
In every human organization, conflicts and controversies are natural
4.1.
indices, which propel any society to greater height through the process of
dialectics. Conflicts and differences are natural in any group, except that such
conflicts must be recognized and preparations be made to avoid possible highly
destructive consequences.
Usually, when conflict arise and is dealt with openly, people are stimulated
4.2.
towards creativity and a more favourable cause of action may result. The love for
peace as against conflict is an innate attribute. In order to achieve peace in any
organization, there must first be recognition of differences in sex, race religion,
education exposure, culture, background etc and a will to overcome them in
order to reach a common goal for peace.
5.0.
VITAL VALUE FOR PEACE BUILDING
Peace is the only virtue that has no positive alternative. Its absence in any
5.1.
group is like a corrosive element that destroys everything that has to do with
beauty and morality. Peace is the element that surpasses all human
understanding. The vital ingredients for peace building are: Tolerance, respect for
others and their view, dialogue, negotiation and mediation, complying with the
rule of law and collective bargaining.
Building
5.2.
environment. It is concerned with establishing a stable environment in which a
settlement can flourish. The tasks involved in building peace have potentials to
serve as a preventive strategy. Building peace therefore is an attempt to
ameliorate the devastating effects of conflict in the short to medium term, whilst
creating secure foundation for a lasting durable peace in the long-term.
peace
requires
multiple
approaches
in
a
crises-ridden
6.0.
PEACE AND NATION BUILDING
The history of nations is marked by great efforts of the youths to bring
6.1.
about development and peace in various societies in the field of Sports, Arts,
Sciences, Education and Technology. Given good education and patriotic
sentiment, the youths will serve as a veritable instrument of peace in Nigeria. At
this stage the youths have to awake to positive leadership responsibility by
refusing to be used for nefarious and clandestine acts. The youths should stand in
the sharpest contradiction to all forces of unfathomable reactionary ethos.
Youths should stand for dialogue as the only means of resolving crises and
confrontation in its entire ramification. The youths should oppose a society that is
informed by violence, nurtured in perfidy and conceived in debauchery.
6.2.
The future of Nigeria lies with the youths; we cannot afford to destroy our
future leaders. Let patriotism and peace reign supreme, for historical destiny of
nation building.
7.0.
CONCLUSION
7.1.
The youths are important everywhere not because they represent the
future and will perpetuate the national patrimony, but because of the role they
can play to ensure stable peace in the Country, so as to have a worthwhile future.
The youths should be seen not only as tomorrow’s leaders but the engine of our
society, the people that makes a nation great. Inevitably, the youths should not
seek for “mere” peace, which is just the suspension of violent modes of rivalry.
Genuine peace implies development of lasting patterns of cooperative and
friendly relations between communities, tribes, states and individuals.
Youths are prince of peace and should abhor conflict; hence conflict is a
corrosive element that destroys the great potentials of any society towards
development. Youths should rise up and defend peace with all the potentials
inherent in them. Great youths, you are the song that humanity has been waiting
for to break violence. The future of our fragile democracy depends on the extent
of how we can build peace through the youths because whether we are conscious
of it or not, everyone exists not for himself alone, but also for others and through
others.
REFERENCES
Adingupu C. (2012) “Coalition of Ethnic Nationalities Canvass
Truce” Vanguard Newspaper, July, 14
Naagbanton P. (2008), “Mindset change and conflict prevention: Building a lasting
future”, a paper presented at the Consensus Building Workshop for
Stakeholders Organized in partnership with UNDP and Delta State
Government, Warri October, 27-29
Osadobor P. (2012) “Youth Restiveness and unemployment in Nigeria: The way
out” Vanguard Newspaper, July, 23.
Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia
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