By Mercy Neme
The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives within the Niger Delta (PIND) has inaugurated 30 Peace Influencers to strengthen peacebuilding and forestall renewed tensions in Warri Federal Constituency.
The influencers have been inaugurated on Monday throughout PIND’s Peace Consolidation and Resilience Session beneath the Warri Peace Community Support Initiative (WPCSI) in Asaba.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) stories that the session introduced collectively representatives of the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities, together with girls, youths and neighborhood leaders.
Speaking on the ceremony, PIND’s Executive Director, Mr Sam Daibo, mentioned the influencers would assist determine early warning indicators and forestall tensions from escalating into violence.
Represented by Mr Chuks Ofulue, PIND’s Analysis and Advocacy Manager, Daibo mentioned their tasks included sharing credible data, encouraging restraint, selling dialogue and supporting well timed responses to rising conflicts.
He urged the influencers to confirm data earlier than sharing it and counter rumours and inflammatory communication by means of accountable messaging.
Daibo mentioned the initiative developed from the Warri Peace Stakeholders Platform, established in 2018 to deal with longstanding inter-ethnic tensions among the many Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo.
He mentioned the WPCSI had centered on constructing relationships, selling dialogue and supporting native actors to stop disagreements from degenerating into violence.
According to him, the initiative’s Joint Implementation Committee has supported stakeholder engagement, advocacy and peace messaging throughout the realm.
He mentioned sustained public peace messages and engagement with authorities have been among the many efforts undertaken in 2026 to assist de-escalation and strengthen peace.
Daibo mentioned the peace consolidation session adopted the presidential peace intervention and commitments arising from it.
He defined that the session was not meant to reopen contested political points, debate ward allocation or assign blame, however to strengthen belief and sensible mechanisms for peaceable co-existence.
He mentioned members would look at shared issues, enhance their understanding of battle early warning and response, and develop mediation and conflict-sensitive communication abilities.
Daibo mentioned the influencers could be linked to PIND’s Early Warning and Early Response system to facilitate well timed motion when threats to peace emerged.
He mentioned continued coordination, mentoring and peer studying would assist the influencers in finishing up their tasks inside their communities.
Daibo urged members to hear to 1 one other, keep away from provocative language, reject collective blame and concentrate on shared pursuits and sensible options.
He referred to as on the Delta state authorities to deepen its partnership with the peace course of and join community-level initiatives with related state constructions.
He mentioned lasting stability required cooperation between trusted neighborhood actors and responsive establishments.
Daibo emphasised that the initiative’s sustainability would depend upon neighborhood possession, accountable data sharing and concrete actions by members after the session.
He mentioned the individuals of Warri, together with the Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo and different residents, deserved to dwell, work and lift their households with out worry.
He added that peace couldn’t be sustained by means of agreements and conferences alone, however required people and communities to decide on restraint, verified data, dialogue and shared accountability.
Meanwhile, some peace influencers who spoke with NAN counseled the initiative.
Chief Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, the Alaowei of Warri, supported the initiative to unite the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo, tackle longstanding grievances and promote peace and improvement.
Chief Brown Mene, the Ogwa-Olusan of Warri, urged the three ethnic nationalities to embrace peaceable co-existence, saying unity was important for sustainable peace and improvement.
Chief Victor Okumagba, the Idjede of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, urged the ethnic teams to embrace peace to draw authorities presence and speed up improvement.
Okumagba described PIND’s intervention as well timed, noting that the Warri Federal Constituency delineation challenge had endured for nearly three years. (NAN)
Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams
