By Frank Ulom
Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) Foundation has opened a Peace Club at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Calabar, Cross River State, to help foster peace and resolve conflicts in the nation.
During the opening of the PIND’s UNICAL Peace Club on Thursday (12 Oct. 2023), Dr Chukwudi Njoku, Capacity Building Coordinator for PIND Foundation’s Peace Building Programme said the capacity-building programme is to help in conflict resolution and promote peaceful coexistence.
He said the Foundation is fully registered and focuses on peacebuilding and economic development.
Njoku further noted that the Foundation has programmes and activities that improve the livelihood of residents of the Niger Delta and improve peace in the region because there can not be economic development if peace does not prevail.
According to him, “We have come to the University of Calabar today to inaugurate the UNICAL Peace Club, we hope to build the capacity of UNICAL students in the peace-building practice and process. The students will form part of our peace-building network. They will join our network of peacebuilders and contribute their own quarter as peacebuilders, especially within the university system.”
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On her part, Dr Violet Eneyor, Patron of PIND Peace Club UNICAL said the Club is to bring students together, and ensure that they are peaceful on campus and exhibit the character of honest and peaceful people both in and outside the campus environment.
“We want to build the capacity of the youths to make them self-reliant and have what to do and help in resolving conflict,” Eneyor said.
Some of the Peace Club’s new executives expressed confidence in the initiative and gave further insight into the programme, stating their commitment to peacebuilding.
The newly inaugurated executives are Carah Fred Effiom as President, Eze Emmanuel Eni as Vice President, Delphine Okunum as Secretary and Amarachi Chidiebere as Public Relations Officer.
They averred that the initiative will bring and promote peaceful co-existence amongst communities and help them to preempt imminent conflict situations.
The event was graced by the varsity staff, students, lovers of peace, the media and others.
