The Peace Club, an initiative of Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and Partners for Peace Network, has been inaugurated at four universities as a measure to mitigate insecurity in the country.
Godsent Chilos, who heads the network in Owerri, while addressing the students of the institution, said the worrisome insecurity situation in the country necessitated the inauguration of the Peace Club at Imo State University.
According to him, the adoption of diplomatic political engagements will help to proffer solutions to the ravaging insecurity in the Southeast. He also stressed that an all-inclusive approach that guarantees equal representation for all stakeholders will facilitate the restoration of peace in the region.
A peace club, he stressed, has the potential to stop fights, chaos, and domestic violence in societies and homes. By the same token, its trained members will ensure the maintenance of peace in the university environment.
“The Press Club has been in existence in secondary schools where we set them up, and today we are simultaneously inaugurating peace clubs in four higher institutions in the region, including Imo State University, University of Calabar, Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, and Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic.
“This programme is designed to establish a peace architecture in Imo State University through the Peace Club, which will ensure the dissemination of peace education and effective peace management within the university. The students will also be able to liaise with themselves to resolve conflict among themselves without engaging in violence,” he said.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof (Fr) Philip Ogbonna, who represented IMSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uchefula Chukwumaeze, commended members of the Peace Club for their volunteerism, even as he harped on the need for them to be good leaders and ensure peace in their territories.
He promised that the university would work with the Peace Club to ensure the maintenance of peace in the institution.
