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From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Federal Government, the National Youth Council of Nigeria, (NYCN), and other stakeholders have proposed the establishment of a South East Peace Commission as a new architecture to tackle insecurity and promote sustainable peace and development in the region.
The proposal was the high point of the South East Peace and Stability Summit organised by the Orlu Progressive Initiative (OPI), with the theme: “Building Sustainable Peace for a Prosperous Future.”
Declaring the summit open, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, represented by Mrs. Stella Maris Olisa, commended OPI for its commitment to peace, development, and cohesion, noting that sustainable peace can only be achieved through dialogue.
She described the theme as critical to national development and stressed that security is not the sole responsibility of security agencies, but requires active participation of communities, traditional institutions, religious bodies, civil societies, the private sector, and young people.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda of the President places strong emphasis on strengthening national security, promoting economic development, and creating opportunities for young Nigerians. Initiatives promoting peace and peaceful coexistence are not only timely, but essential,” she said.
Olisa noted that the South East occupies an important position in Nigeria’s economic and social development, adding that a peaceful and stable zone is critical to national prosperity. He urged participants to move beyond discussions to develop practical, coordinated solutions to the region’s challenges.
“The Office of the SGF as the coordinating arm of the Federal Government remains committed to facilitating inter-agency collaboration and supporting initiatives that contribute to national peace, security, stability, and development,” she added.
In his remarks, the Secretary of Oguta Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Albinus Ozuruoha, said peace cannot thrive where unemployment persists. He urged the Federal Government to create jobs for youths, noting that the South East needs more attention and is not getting what it equitably deserves. He warned that kidnapping and terrorism cannot solve the region’s problems.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Convener and Executive Director, Orlu Progressive Initiative (OPI), Ikechukwu Nwabueze, said the South East has never lacked intelligence, enterprise, and courage, but noted that development cannot thrive where insecurity persists.
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“Acknowledged, the government cannot build sustainable peace alone, but the Federal Government must provide national leadership, strengthen security institutions, support peace infrastructure, and ensure national policies respond to realities of the South East,” he said.
Nwabueze identified cybercrime and drug abuse as growing threats among youths, saying cybercrime damages the reputation of young people and exposes them to criminal networks, while drug abuse destroys families. He called for a response combining law enforcement with prevention, education, rehabilitation, counselling, skills development, and economic opportunity.
“Let us build a South East where a child will go to school without fear, where political differences will not become bloodshed, where those living in other parts of the country will return home without fear. Let us create a new peace architecture for our region. Let this be the beginning of the South East Peace Commission,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of youths, the Chairman of NYCN, Imo State Chapter, Humphrey Osuji, said there can be no sustainable development without peace, and no meaningful peace without justice, inclusion, and opportunity.
He said peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but an environment where people live with dignity, security, and hope, and called for a shift from seeing young people as beneficiaries of peace to recognising them as peace builders.
“Our young people must be given opportunities in education, employment, entrepreneurship, technology, skills development, sports, creative industries, and leadership. A young person who has hope for tomorrow is less likely to become an instrument of destruction today,” he said.
Osuji called for strengthening early warning and response systems, intelligence-led security, community policing, conflict prevention, inter-community dialogue, countering misinformation and hate speech, youth empowerment, and respect for rule of law.
He urged South East youths to choose dialogue over destruction, enterprise over criminality, and unity over division, adding that outcomes of the summit should translate into practical programmes.
“Let us build a South East where peace protects development, security protects investment, justice protects citizens, youth empowerment protects the future, and unity strengthens the region,” he said.
