Ahead of the forthcoming Bayelsa State governorship election on November 11, 2023, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor on Tourism and facilitator of the South South Tourism Roundtable initiative, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo has called on the Institute of Peace, Conflict Resolution and Entrepreneurial Research (IPCER) to consider the option of convoking theBayelsa Peace Conference’ in Yenagoa.
Speaking as chairman at the induction of the second batch of doctoral fellows and fellows into IPCER at Kingdom Grace Mission Inc, Oxbow Lake Yenagoa, on Thursday, Dr. Kiyaramo noted that “the assumption behind the notion of peace tourism is that travelling helps tourists to know new people, cultures, values.”
According to the governor’s aide, tourism has often been recognised for its ability to drive peace, security and understanding, pointing out that the more sustainable a country’s tourism sector is, the lower the level of violence and conflict would likely be.
He maintained that the untiring peace building efforts of Governor Douye Diri qualifies him to be conferred with the IPCER Peace Award, informing that peace initiatives of the governor have earned Bayelsa State one of the safest states in the country.
The SSA further noted that research shows that countries or regions with more open and sustainable tourism sectors tend to be more peaceful and that the peaceful atmosphere created by the prosperity administration under Senator Douye Diri has made Bayelsa a preferred tourists’ destination in the south-south region.
“If there is to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities. If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbours. If there is to be peace between neighbours, there must be peace in the home. If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart,
“As inductees, you have been commissioned as peace activists and restless pacifists to make peace, starting from your immediate environment. Individuals have essential roles to play in the promotion of culture of peace, Dr. Kiyaramo maintained.
Delivering a lecture, titled “the role of peace makers in nation building”, chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, in Yenagoa Local Government Area, HRM, King Bubaraye Dakolo (Agada IV), lamented that the injustice meted out to the people of the Niger Delta by both the federal government and international oil corporations operating in the region, often fuel conflicts, noting that peace makers must exhibit good character by living exemplary lifestyles for others to emulate.
King Dakolo said the responsibility of peace ambassadors is to ensure that disputes are not allowed aggravate to the point of causing conflicts, just as he stressed the need for peace makers to possess the ability to identify injustice in conflict situations to enable them give the right advice in resolving such conflicts.
“A peace maker should be able to give the right advice and take right actions in conflict situations. Peace makers should be able to deploy the right knowledge. A peace maker must be tolerant.
They should have enviable track record, character, looking nice, acting nice, and epitomising the right knowledge as ignorance could cause or aggravate conflicts.
In his welcome address, President of the Institute of Peace, Conflict Resolution and Entrepreneurial Research (IPCER), Arch. Bishop Prof. Alex Okubo Eseimokumoh, explained that the Institute is a professional body out to promote peace, research entrepreneurship and tourism, comprising peace makers, conflict resolution managers and entrepreneurial researchers set up to build peace and resolve conflicts of inter-groups and communities as well as advocate for entrepreneurial training of people for sustainable development.
According to Prof. Eseimokumoh, who also doubles as West Africa’s representative of the World Bishops Council, said the vision of IPCER is to provide unbiased professional services based on authentic and uncensored result oriented research work on security, peace building, democratic governance, tourism and entrepreneurial development, informing that the new doctoral fellows and fellows being inducted will be subsequently issued license to practice as peacemakers and arbitrators.
“It behoves on you as new entrants into the Institute to discharge your professional services with utmost dignity and honesty. Endeavour to be good ambassadors of the Institute at all times. It is my wish that you will be well guided in the cause of discharging your professional services to the nation and humanity, Prof. Eseimokumoh said.
Also, speaking the Registrar of the British Standard University (BSU) Republic of Benin, Dr. Jackson Ewere Ologbo advised the inductees to be exemplary in their conduct, informing that arrangements were on to inaugurate a chapter of IPCER in the Republic of Benin.
Dr. Ologbo said the British Standard University has excellent facilities for the training of men and women in various academic, professional and vocational disciplines under an atmosphere that enhances simultaneous development of academic, mental and physical faculties, in a bid to expand the frontiers of knowledge through provision of excellent conditions for learning and research, and to be a world-class institution for academic excellence geared towards meeting societal needs.
In his brief exhortation, the Spiritual father of the day, Archbishop, Prof. Eddy Bebor reiterated the fact conflicts are part of human society, saying that peace makers must not aggravate disputes by their actions or inactions, just as he acknowledged the onerous task of peacemakers in the society.
Highpoint of the induction ceremony was the conferment of doctoral fellow and fellow awards members of the Institute of Peace Conflict Resolution and Entrepreneurial Research.
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