• Enugu monarch, cabinet chiefs, stakeholders learn conflict mitigation
From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
Effective conflict management is the key to peace, cooperation and development in any community, as no community can grow in an atmosphere of chaos. So, leaders with focus and direction always think out of the box to tactfully fashion out ways of nipping crises in the bud, by pursuing peaceful co-existence and meaningful development for the well-being of their people.
This was just what the chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers’ Council and traditional ruler of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Samuel Asadu (Jnr.), did recently.
The monarch, in collaboration with Pens and Voices Nigeria Limited, on May 14-15, 2025, staged a workshop for his cabinet members, the Igwe-in-Council, the town’s union executive and other stakeholders in his community on conflict management and resolution.
The two-day training, tagged: “Skills of managing community/communal conflict for Edem-Ani Community leaders/stakeholders,” held at The People’s Palace, Edem-Ani, in Nsukka Local Government Area.
Executive director, Pens and Voices Nigeria Limited, Chief Uchenna Anioke, and the firm’s director of training, Dr. Ambrose Igboke, who were the resource persons, drilled the participants, including the wife of the traditional ruler, Lolo Happiness Asadu, on the nitty-gritty of managing conflict at the communal level.
Emphasis was on how the community leaders could entrench and maintain peace, improve their leadership skills with the ability to manage and resolve conflict within the community level without necessarily going to court.
They also harped on the relevance of effective communication and active listening in resolving disputes, adding that the tripod of conflict resolution, which includes, fairness, equity and justice should be adhered to while adjudicating on cases.
Therefore, they recommended adoption of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as well as working in synergy with their traditional ruler and other community arms of institutions for peaceful co-existence, stressing that “a peaceful community welcomes development.”
In his remarks, Igwe Asadu, said he conceived and sponsored the training out of passion and the love he has for his people and Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom.
According to him, their understanding of the rudiments of conflict management and resolution would be a source of relief to him. He disclosed that he got the inspiration from the recent five-day training he attended in Enugu, which was organised by Pens and Voices in partnership with FC International Council of Mediators and Reconciliators. The event was sponsored by the Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah.
The programme, he pointed out, was aimed at ensuring that there was peace and harmony in the communities, adding that he saw it also as very important to his community to leverage on peace, harmony, mediation and arbitration: “This is a life-changing effort to put our people right on mediation and arbitration. I was opportune to attend a workshop of this nature in Enugu. I was in the training for five days and it was because Governor Peter Mbah included me on the platform. But guess what, I was able to see that the training can create peace and harmony, and leverage mediation and arbitration in the various communities in Enugu State. My target is to ensure peace and enhance mutual respect, co-operation and sustainable community development.”
The monarch urged the participants to be open-minded and avail themselves of the task of building the community to be the best among equals.
Some of the participants told Daily Sun that the exercise was novel and historic in the community, insisting that Igwe Asadu “is a leader with a difference.”
Vice President General of the community’s Town Union, Mrs. Grace Onyishi who stood in for the President General, said the programme was the first of its kind in the community.
Also, the former vice chairman of Nsukka LGA and a member of the Igwe’s Cabinet, Chief Ibe Ajibo said the programme was so good that it sharpened their brain more.
Chief of Staff to the traditional ruler, Chief John Okanya and Dr Sylvanus Ogwuda said the exercise was impressive and fantastic, noting that Igwe Asadu had impacted much on his people in various ways.