Good Leadership, Justice, Equity and National Unity Where Demands from North Central Region During a Savannah Centre Sponsored Zonal Interactive Dialogue.

It was a gathering of eminent Nigerians from the six states of the north central geo-political zone of Nigeria, for the opening session of a two day North Central Zonal Dialogue on the state of the nation.

The event, which was organised by the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation in partnership with the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, was held at the event hall of the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Abuja on Tuesday June 8, 2021, had in attendance four elected delegates each from Benue, Nassarawa, Niger, Kogi, Kwara and Plateau states.

This is the culmination of Lux Terra’s dialogue initiative with each of the states in the North Central zone, which began in April 2021.

Among the eminent Nigerians present at the event were John Cardinal Onayiekan Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum and former Minister of Agriculture, Mr Labaran Maku, former Minister of Information, and Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede, the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria and former Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Mrs Eugenia Abu, former Executive Director at the Nigerian Television Authority, Ene Ede, Women’s Right Activist, Barr Hussaini Abdulrahman an Industrialist, and Hajara Yakubu Wanka, member of the Front for National Rebirth.

In his welcome remarks Rev Fr George Ehusani, Executive Director of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, lamented the current state of the Nigerian nation, characterised by failed governance, gross injustice and inequity, mutual acrimony and distrust, widespread insecurity and socio-economic dislocation, which have now given rise to the demand for self determination by segments of the polity. Fr Ehusani lamented Nigeria’s current slide towards state collapse. While expressing his conviction that all hope was not lost and that Nigeria is still redeemable, Ehusani called for intensive dialogue among all Nigerian stakeholders in order to save the sinking ship.

In their separate remarks John Cardinal Onayiekan, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Mr Labaran Maku and Hussaini Abdulrahman, called for justice, fairness, equity and inclusiveness as a panacea for peace, unity, security and prosperity for Nigeria and Nigerians. They also commended the patriotism and commitment of the delegates from the six states of the North Central geo-political zone who have converged on Abuja for the two day Dialogue Conference.

The Dialogue Conference concludes on Wednesday June 9, 2021.

Call for Printing of Conference Materials and Documents

The centre hereby calls for competent printers to undertake the printing of conference materials and documents for an event coming up in September.

Interested vendors are advised to visit the programs’ department of the centre for detailed information and quote their competitive price

Application Deadline:

  • Deadline for submission of quotation is Monday 6th September 2021

5th National Policy Desk Review on the Community initiative to Promote Peace

Savannah Centre Holds 5th National Policy Desk Review on the Community initiative to Promote Peace Project in Abuja.
The National Quarterly Policy Desk Review is a once in a quarter activity which is aimed at creating awareness and analyzing evidence-based assessment on the relevant existing States and Federal policies vis-à-vis developing policies/bills that could influence conflicts, policies that prevent violence addressing root causes of conflict (e.g., policies related to natural resource management, labour inclusion, and anti-discrimination laws), and policies that respond to violence (e.g., national and municipal policies and appropriations related to policing, counter-trafficking and counter-terrorism). The National Quarterly Desk Review (NQDR) which took place on Monday, 16th August 2021 at Bon Hotel Elvis, Wuse 2, Abuja had in attendance participants from the Civil Society Organizations, Youth and Women Groups, Persons with Disabilities, Government Officials, Legal Practitioners, Media Experts, policy analysts and Academia.
The programme which started with the second stanza of the National Anthem was followed by a warm opening remark by Sir Bola Abimbola, Senior Program Manager, Savannah Centre, on behalf of the Executive Director, Savannah Centre, who commended all stakeholders for their show of effort to ensure Nigeria, is a better place for all with the singular honor of being present. He further urged all to be open in the review and most importantly be realistic and constructive in divulging the two major emotional and contentious policies. He further thanked the Community initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP) partners Mercy Corps, Interfaith Mediation Center (IMC), Patorial Resolve (PARE) and Africa Radio and Drama Association (ARDA) for contributing immensely at all levels mitigating violence in at-risk communities to continually seek peaceful co-existence and national unity.
A blend of plenary sessions was deployed to divulge the loopholes in the Electoral Act (Amendment Bill) 2020 and National Press Council Amendment Bill (Media Regulation Bill). Which stated with a paper presentation by Professor Sadeeque A. Abba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, University of Abuja on: “Fostering a Peaceful Nigeria through Accountable Electoral Act, Active Citizens’ Participation and Stakeholders’ Collaboration” followed by a 4- panel discussion comprising: of Barr. Bulus Atsen, Chairman Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja; Mrs. Yetunde Bakare, Senior Programme Officer, Legislative Engagement, Youth Initiative Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA Africa); Mr. Bukola Idowu, Executive Director, Kimpact Organisation and Ms. Ekaete Umoh, Country Director, CBM Global Disability Inclusion as well as an eloquent moderator, Kimberly Blessing Nwachukwu, Broadcaster, Nigerian Info which succeeded the lead presentation.
A second paper on “Mitigating Violent Conflict in the Nigeria’s Polity through Effective Media Policy: Using NBC/NPC Media Act as Case Study” was delivered by Chief Christopher Isiguzo, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, discussing the paper was Ms. Eugenia Abu, Founder and CEO, The Eugenia Abu Media Centre; Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, Former Director General, National Broadcasting Commission; Majeed Dahiru, Media Practitioner as well as a seasoned Moderator, Mr. Haruna Abdullahi, Publisher/editor in chief world entourage magazine,

Some of the persons that participated in the event include but are not limited to, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, General Secretary Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Yinka Oduniyi, President, Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN), Pastor Dr James Wuye, E.D Interfaith Mediation Center (IMC), David Gatare, CIPP-Mercy Corps Chief of Party, amongst others.

Call for National Dialogue by Niger Delta, in line with our Aim

Abuja, Aug. 9, 2021 (NAN) The Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD) says the call for national dialogue by the Niger Delta leaders is in line with the centre’s aim of mainstreaming a whole of society-driven national dialogue.

Executive Director of the centre, Amb. Sani Bala, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the organisation was committed to promoting consensus on workable pathways to durable peace, national unity, security and sustainable development.

Bala, however, said that the centre does not share the spirit and intent of the three-month ultimatum issued to the Federal Government to convey a national dialogue of the representatives of the ethnic groups to chart a new course for the country by the Niger Delta.

He explained that what the centre sets out to achieve was a patient and rigorous dialogue for consensus by all stakeholders on peaceful and systematic ways of addressing major challenges of governance and nation-building.

According to him, the centre is aware that achieving these takes time and resources that it considers it unrealistic to propose nor support any timeline to the Federal Government.

Bala said that without any prejudice or iota of intent to downplay the import nor challenge the right of the Niger Delta people to express their views as reported by the media.

” The centre wishes to refer to a section of the report in which the Niger Delta leaders reportedly gave ultimatum to the Federal Government.

” Thus: we the people of Niger Delta hereby give the Government of Nigeria a three-months window, within which to cordially address our concerns towards re-federalizing the polity.

” By convening a national dialogue of the representatives of the ethnic groups in Nigeria to chart a new course for the country.

“At the expiration of of this three-months window, we the people of Niger Delta will commence the process that will guarantee our freedom and progress.

” While the call for national dialogue by the Niger Delta leaders is in line with the Centre’s main aim of mainstreaming a whole of society-driven national dialogue to attain consensus.

” The Centre does not share the spirit and intent of any ultimatum at all,” he said.

Bala appreciated the media for the wider dissemination of its on-going national unity project, disclosing that a lot of positive contributions have been received from different ethnic nationalities.