Concerned about the prolonged series of conflicts in Taraba State, which have hindered the state’s progress, the Kukah Centre, in conjunction with the Secretariat of the National Peace Committee and UNESCO, has initiated efforts to resolve these issues.
Dr. Nneka Okafor, the Head of Sector for Social and Human Sciences at the UNESCO Regional Office in Abuja, emphasized the pivotal role of peace in fostering stability within any society. She asserted UNESCO’s commitment to ensuring that Taraba maintains peace, highlighting UNESCO’s designation by the United Nations as an agency responsible for promoting a culture of peace. Dr. Okafor outlined plans for the establishment of a school peace club targeting students at one of the state’s universities.
Dr. Atta Barkindo, the Director of the Kukah Centre and head of the Secretariat of the National Peace Committee, representing Chairman Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, underscored the importance of peace in driving development. He explained that the summit was meticulously organized to address underlying issues contributing to conflicts. Barkindo emphasized the need for policy recommendations to be presented to the new Governor, given the recent administration’s inception.
[blockquote align=”left” author=”Penci Design” style=”font-size: 30px”]To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it?[/blockquote]
Barkindo highlighted the evolving nature of conflicts in Taraba over the past 15 years, necessitating a fresh perspective and critical evaluation to address current challenges effectively. He stressed the importance of managing diversity and promoting peace in the state to safeguard Nigeria’s stability, warning of dire consequences should Taraba descend into chaos.
