The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has stepped up efforts to strengthen peacebuilding, grievance management and community resilience systems across Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) in Delta State through a series of strategic capacity-building workshops.
The intervention brought together members of the Peacebuilding Committees of the Egbema-OPUDIS, Agbonu Ogulagha Ibe and Warri Kingdom Coastal HCDTs for intensive training on non-adversarial conflict management, dialogue facilitation, conflict early warning and response, as well as the localization of resilience strategies within host communities.
Held in Warri, the workshops attracted traditional rulers, security agencies, local government officials and other critical stakeholders, underscoring the growing commitment to strengthening local peace infrastructure and promoting coordinated conflict prevention mechanisms across Niger Delta communities.
The initiative follows the successful implementation of a similar resilience localization and peacebuilding programme for the Ugboland HCDT in Ondo State, reinforcing PIND’s commitment to institutionalizing community-driven peace structures across the region.
Speaking on behalf of PIND’s Executive Director, Mr. Sam Ogbemi Daibo, the organisation’s Peacebuilding Manager, Dr. David Udofia, stressed the importance of proactive peace systems in sustaining development within host communities.
According to him, communities must move beyond reactive responses to conflicts by establishing structures capable of identifying and addressing grievances before they escalate into crises.
“Peacebuilding cannot be reactive. Communities must have structures that can anticipate tensions, manage grievances early and promote dialogue before conflicts escalate. By strengthening HCDT Peacebuilding Committees, we are helping communities build resilience systems that support stability, trust and long-term development,” Udofia stated.
Participants engaged in practical sessions focused on strengthening stakeholder engagement, improving collaboration with security agencies and enhancing coordination among HCDTs, traditional institutions, youth groups, women leaders and other peace actors.
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Warri Kingdom HCDT, Mrs. Doris Ademola, described the workshop as both timely and impactful, noting that it provided participants with practical skills for managing grievances and fostering peaceful coexistence.
“This workshop has helped us better understand how to manage grievances and engage our communities more constructively. We are leaving with practical tools that will help us respond to tensions early and strengthen peace within our communities,” she said.
PIND noted that the intervention is expected to strengthen the operational effectiveness of Peacebuilding Committees, improve mediation and conflict prevention capacities, deepen collaboration with security institutions and support the integration of resilience-building strategies within participating HCDTs.
The programme aligns with PIND’s Phase IV strategic agenda, which prioritizes systems strengthening, resilience localization and community-led peacebuilding as critical pathways to sustainable development and stability across the Niger Delta.
