The Federal Government has been advised to include women in peace-building processes, in order to check insecurity in the nation.
The advice was given by the Programme Specialist, Women, Peace & Security, UN Women, Peter Mancha, during the seventh Lagos Public Relations Stakeholders Conference webinar themed themed “Adopting Proper Communication Strategy, Channels and Technology for National Peace and Stability in Nigeria” on Thursday in Lagos.
Mancha wondered why women bear the brunt of major conflicts across the country, but are largely excluded in the peace-building processes, advocating that the peace architecture in Nigeria must integrate strategic mechanisms to enhance effective and efficient communications system with stakeholders.
Mancha added that the traditional platforms and new media technologies should both be fully utilised for conflict prevention, including early warning and early response systems.
Mancha prescribed a few solutions, vis; coordination among state and non-state actors through synergy and effective communication, involvement of traditional/religious Institutions, women networks and CSOs in the peace-building process; strengthening of civil-military relations to build confidence and spur dissemination of useful information by the public; using the Social Media to disseminate information, despite the challenges of access and poor information management, because of its capacity to inform and promote inclusion in the peace-building process.
President and chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Mukhtar Sirajo noted that public relations or communication provide a platform for a peaceful and harmonious existence among the people, given its core role of building and mending relationships.
“[The] Nigerian Public Relations family is available to play the leading role expected of it in bringing our people together to harness our God-endowed diversity for the pursuit of the common good.”
Yushau Shuaib of the Image Merchants Promotion Limited highlighted the roles of communicators in crisis management and advised them to play a leading role in promoting peace, security, stability, good governance, as well as in the settlements of disputes. He added that the government, partners and security services can capitalise on modern communication tools, especially social media to manage the narratives in the battle of ideas, so as to enhance intelligence-gathering and promote peace through efficient and effective communication delivery.
President, Africa Public Relations Association, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, called on public relations professionals to lead the narrative for national peace and security in the country. He further insisted on public relations being the missing link in achieving peace and security in the country.
Chief Executive, Goldwater & RiverSand Consult, Captain Aliyu U. Babangida (Rtd), observed that the nation was in need of proper security communication and emphasised the need for people to have confidence in the system.
The Convener of the event and Lead Consultant Addefort Limited, Olabamiji Adeleye, explained that the conference has been consistent in actualising its set vision to be a bridge-building talk-shop for stakeholders to interact, discuss and proffer solutions to the social, political and economic challenges plaguing the nation. The focus this year is on national peace and stability “because nothing meaningful can be achieved in an atmosphere of public unrest and anarchy.”
The conference is organized by Addefort Limited in collaboration with the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and Peace and Conflict Resolution Center (PEACrEc).
