A capacity-strengthening training program aimed at empowering youth leaders on conflict transformation and non-adversarial engagement has officially commenced in Port Harcourt. Organized by Search for Common Ground and funded by the European Union, the program is part of the larger project titled A Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta.
The initiative, being implemented across Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States, seeks to equip young people with the skills to manage conflicts using peaceful and collaborative approaches. The training, held at The Edge Hotel, GRA, Port Harcourt, focuses on helping participants understand identity, its role in conflict, and strategies to foster peaceful coexistence.
Empowering youths to become change agents, Participants were taught the importance of identity in conflict resolution, emphasizing that identity can either serve as a connector or a divider. The sessions explored how identity can be inherited or chosen, how individuals often make sacrifices to protect their identities, and how default reactions to conflict tend to be adversarial even when collaboration would be more beneficial.
The training also covered key distinctions between conflict and violence, how to identify visible and invisible conflicts, and ways to address underlying tensions before they escalate.
Speaking
on the objective of the training, Mr. Cyril Bieh, Lead Consultant and Facilitator, stated:
“This training is designed to empower young persons and youth leaders to use the Common Ground Approach to resolve conflicts in their communities, particularly in Rivers State. Our goal is that once they are trained, there will be fewer cases of conflict and violence across these communities.”
Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Kefas Shutty, Support Consultant for Search for Common Ground, highlighted the broader impact:
“Participants have been carefully selected from their communities to gain this knowledge and transfer it back to their people. The expectation is that after this training, they will step down the knowledge to their community members teaching them how to mitigate conflict and apply non-adversarial approaches to resolving disputes.”
Speaking on key takeaways, Many participants expressed gratitude for the training and shared insights on how they plan to implement their newly acquired skills.
Sydney Iyoyo, from Igbikisikila-ama community, emphasized the importance of problem identification:
“Before resolving a conflict, you must first identify its root cause. I’ve learned how to conduct inquiries, ask the right questions, and apply knowledge to create a win-win situation for all parties involved. If one side feels unsatisfied, the conflict may persist. My plan is to take this knowledge back to my community and educate others on how to resolve disputes peacefully.”
Rosemary Nyekwe, from Eneka community and Secretary of the Rumuriyan Organization, praised the initiative and its impact on her perspective:
“I’ve learned that conflict resolution should not be based on personal biases. Instead, both parties must come together, collaborate, and find a common ground approach. The key takeaway for me is that conflict doesn’t always have to lead to violence—dialogue and negotiation can bring peaceful resolutions.”
She also extended appreciation to the organizers and funders:
“In my 30-something years, I have never seen people spend resources just to impact knowledge on others. I am deeply grateful for this initiative and hope to see more of such trainings in the future.”
As the program continues across the three states, organizers remain optimistic that youth leaders will take the knowledge back to their communities, fostering a culture of dialogue, collaboration, and peaceful conflict resolution. The success of this initiative could mark a significant step toward reducing violence and criminality in the Niger Delta region.
