Relief Ambassadors, Human Rights Defenders Chart New Path for Peace in Nigeria
By Ekemini Simon
Relief Ambassadors and Human Rights Defenders in Nigeria have recommended a roadmap for peace needed to tackle widespread concerns about human rights violations and humanitarian strain in Nigeria.
At the one-day training for Relief Ambassadors and Human Rights Defenders, organised by International Relief and Community Development (Relief International Africa) and its partners in Uyo on Saturday, August 23, 2025, leaders and stakeholders from diverse sectors observed that human rights violations and humanitarian strain are prevalent in contemporary Nigerian society.
The gathering which drew traditional rulers, religious leaders, scholars, women-led organisations, community-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, and members of the press featured paper presentations, strategic orientation sessions, and interactive engagements aimed at equipping participants with tools for peacebuilding and human rights advocacy.
Deliberations at the training highlighted widespread concerns about human rights violations and humanitarian strain in Nigeria, with particular focus on the prevalence of land-related communal and inter-communal conflicts in Akwa Ibom State. Participants noted that weak leadership in resource-rich states often fuels violence, while corruption continues to undermine effective service delivery.
In a communique issued at the end of the training, participants observed that many Nigerian citizens lack the basic knowledge, skills and capacity to defend their rights and protect vulnerable members whose rights are violated.
The communique stressed the importance of justice, equality, and sustainable peace as pillars of social stability, underscoring that life in society is interdependent and that temporary peace cannot substitute for long-term harmony. It further recommended the adoption of Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) systems in conflict management.
To address the concerns, ambassadors were urged to embrace nonviolence, employ conflict analysis tools such as the problem tree approach, engage a broad range of stakeholders, and adopt pre- and post-conflict mediation strategies. They were also encouraged to prioritize Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), pursue nonviolent advocacy, and remain impartial in their peace efforts.
Ambassador Green Isaac, Executive Director of Relief International Africa, who signed the communique, emphasized that all peacebuilding interventions must align with divine will, reiterating that ambassadors should serve as impartial custodians of peace and reconciliation in their communities.
Highpoint of the event was the Ambassadorial award for peace conferred on Miss Abasido Friday, Most Rev. Friday Asuquo Ibanga and Mr. Ofili Chidiebere.