By Jude Atupulazi
The United Nations plans to build its Peace and Conflict Centre in Anambra State through her international body; United Nations Peace and Positive Living Awareness Centre (UN-POPLAC).
This was disclosed to Journalists by the Organisation’s International Coordinator, Most Rev. Dr. Ozioma Ozoemena, during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of Awka Capital Development Authority (ACTDA) in Awka, Mr Ossy Onuko.
Dr. Ozoemena said the peace centre which would be the first in the South East of Nigeria, would serve as an Alternative Disputes Resolution Center where people would get judgement and disputes resolved.
According to Dr. Ozioma, the peace centre which would be built in Awka, Anambra State, would serve as a training ground, adding that peace and conflict resolution was a major focus of the organization which aim, was to reduce conflicts in the country.
He stated, ‘The peace centre is very important. We have a land in Awka which will be unveiled during our upcoming peace and leadership seminar on May 25, 2024. The center is a multipurpose building situated at a strategic location and will serve as a court where people will get judgement, with disputes resolved.
‘The peace center will be a training ground, it will serve as an international college of peace advocates in affiliation with other universities, such as Peace Education, which will help curb social vices in the nation and also serve Awka and its immediate communities. Peace and conflict resolution is a major focus of UN- PEPOLAC.’
Receiving the United Nations Peace and Positive Living Awareness Center in his office, the Managing Director of ACTDA, Mr. Onuko, thanked the group for their resilience and dedication.
Mr Onuko who applauded what he viewed as the laudable project embarked by the body, explained that there was so much the security agencies could do amid violence in the state, but noted that the bulk of responsibility was carrying out sensitization and finding solutions to issues of insecurity, restoring peace among communities.
The ACTDA boss however urged leaders of the organization to extend their outreach to communities having disputes; not as an enforcement arm, but to Advocate for peace and alternative Dispute Resolution.
Earlier in his remarks the traditional ruler of Ifitedunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area, Igwe Emeka Ilouno, while commending Governor Chukwuma Soludo for putting up structures on ground and making Awka a befitting capital city, said that through the organization, peace had been restored in warring communities and Soludo’s second tenure guaranteed.
