PEACE IS ATTAINABLE!!!

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