The Director General of the Institute For Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, has canvassed for concerted collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to secure and sustain peace in Nigeria.
He spoke at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the IPCR and the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) held at the Corporate Headquarters of the Institute in Abuja.
Dr. Ochogwu, noted that peace is an all inclusive issue which cannot be achieved alone by one entity, either as a single institute but requires active involvement of all including Ministries, Departments, Agencies, national and multinational agencies, States and non-state actors to achieve holistic peace.
According to him, peace-building in today’s Nigeria requires the mobilisation of every available resource intellectual, institutional and informational, a role he said the media must play responsibly.
“Peace is all-inclusive. No single institution can do it alone”, he said.
Dr. Ochogwu further cautioned against destructive criticisms saying, “Your nation is like your family. When you constantly pull it down, outsiders begin to see it as broken. Constructive engagement strengthens nations. Destructive criticism weakens them.”
He maintained that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot deliver its agenda in isolation, and canvassed that national progress requires cooperation between government institutions, media organisations and civil society.
The IPCR Director General underscored the essence of the Institute’s partnership with ACOE saying, “This partnership is about amplifying voices for peace, dialogue, understanding and development not just in Nigeria, but across Africa.”
The high point of the event was the formal endorsement of Dr. Ochogwu and the Chairman of ACOE, Shola Akingboye.
Highlights of the MoU include fostering collaboration between IPCR and ACOE in promoting ethical online journalism and peacebuilding initiatives; To support research, policy advocacy, and public campaigns aimed at improving governance, transparency, and citizen participation in peace processes.
Also, the parties agreed on
collaborative research on the impact of online media on conflict dynamics, with joint publications, reports, and policy briefs; Exchange of information, resources, and best practices related to conflict resolution and digital media ethics; Participation in each other’s events, such as lectures, awards, and conferences, to amplify messages on peace and media responsibility, among others.
Earlier in his response, the Chairman of ACOE, Shola Akingboye, commended the Director General of IPCR on his efforts at steering the ship of the Institute towards realizing its mission and objectives.
He assured a mutual partnership with the institute saying, “given our commitment to being the voice for the voiceless, we are here to pledge our willingness to support all efforts aimed at improving peace in Nigeria through enhanced collaboration.
“You can count on us to utilise our various media platforms and join the good work that is ongoing under your current leadership at IPCR.
We can leverage the reach and ease of digital platforms to showcase IPCR’s positive works, enhance its online visibility, drive engagement, educate stakeholders, and ultimately contributing to your goal.”
