CONFLICT MANAGEMENT SKILLS KEY TO BUILDING STRONGER NATION, SAYS ABUAD DON
A Professor of Conflict Peace and Strategic Studies at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Olaoluwa Oyinloye, has urged Nigerians to learn conflict management skills to deepen peace in the society and build a stronger nation.
Prof Oyinloye, who is the UNESCO Co-Chair on Peace and Citizenship at the university, identified constructive conflict management as a necessary factor for the attainment of peace and harmony in human society which could foster sustainable development.
The Peace Studies expert who spoke at the closing ceremony of a one-day Professional Capacity Building Workshop organized by the Department of Conflict, Peace and Strategic Studies, ABUAD said Nigerians need to equip themselves with conflict management skills to manage tribal, ethnic, religious and social diversities in the country.
At the workshop, the participants through series of exercises, role-playing, and group discussions practised conflict de-escalation techniques, learnt to identify triggers and also shared experiences aimed at fostering a sense of community and mutual understanding.
Prof Oyinloye noted that constructive management skills should be developed by individuals across different sectors because conflicts are inevitable but should not be allowed to degenerate into violence which could cause social dislocation.
He said: “Conflicts are normal, ubiquitous and they are like the air we inhale and we should be glad when the conflicts are happening, especially, when they have not degenerated into violence, whereby we will be having political assassination in the country.
“So, conflicts are normal but it should be constructively and creatively managed. Even though we see conflict as normal in the field of Peace Studies, what we always speak against is violence because it destroys things, it makes it difficult for people to live together in peace.”
While noting that Nigeria is a multi-religious country, Prof Oyinloye stressed that tolerance among adherents of various religious groups in the country would foster peace which is needed for sustainable development and stability.
Prof Oyinloye also charged the electorate in Nigeria to always exercise their franchise rightly during elections and should not allow their primordial sentiments to influence their choice of leaders.
He said: “They shouldn’t just vote money bags, not voting with the people with sweet mouth or just because they are from their tribal origins.”