Savannah Centre Sponsored Stakeholders Dialogue Event in Niger State, Call for Improved Governance, Welfare and Security

In the latest of the dialogue series organised by Lux Terra Leadership Foundation in partnership with the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy Democracy Development (SCDDD), stakeholders from different ethno-religious and civil society organisations, as well as representatives of media houses in Niger State, met for a one day multi-stakeholder dialogue session at the at NSDC Hotel, Minna, on Wednesday May 19 2021, to deliberate on the current challenges confronting the Nigerian nation and also made recommendations for the way out of Nigeria’s governance problems.

Executive Director of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Fr George Ehusani who was represented by Majeed Dahiru, welcomed all participants and charged them to deliberate meaningfully on the challenges facing the nation and come out with viable recommendations that will take care of the genuine aspirations of the people of Niger State.

Among participants at the dialogue session were the representatives of Niger South, Dr Ahmad Shehu, Niger North Usman Musa Ibeto and Niger East Moses Alkali. Others include, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria( CAN) Niger state chapter, Rev Dr Mathias Echiado, Chairperson of the Forum of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Hauwa Kulu Abdullahi, Kolo Muhammad of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Minna, Aisha Beddegi of Badeggi FM and Christiana Barau of the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA).

The participants who all commended the initiative, called on governments at all levels to improve governance by providing adequate security and welfare for the Nigerian people, and to work seriously on job creation and poverty alleviation.

The participants also lamented the collapse of the family system and admonished a return to the days of strong moral values as the norm in the society. They also identified the absence of social Justice as the root cause of the disunity in Nigeria, and called on the Federal Government to put in place deliberate policies and programs that will ensure justice, equity and fairness to all Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity or religion. This they said will go a long way to achieve unity, peace and security in Nigeria.

Participants call for collective responsibility from political leaders and citizens during a Savannah Centre’s Sponsored Zonal Dialogues in Nasarawa State.

The dialogue series organised by Lux Terra Leadership Foundation in partnership with the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy Democracy Development (SCDDD) continued on Tuesday May 11, 2021 at the NUJ Press Centre in Lafia, Nasarawa State, with stakeholders from diverse ethno-religious and civil society organisations, as well as representatives of media houses in the state.

Executive Director of Lux Terra, Fr George Ehusani who was represented by Barr Mike Utsaha, stressed that at a time like this, there is need for Nigerians to sit together as a people, take a critical look at their challenges, and come up with workable suggestions on the way forward for the nation. He enjoined all participants to contribute meaningfully to the deliberations in the course of the day.

A Panel discussion on the topic, “Nigeria and the Political Economy of National Security, Unity and Development” featured the following among other panelists: Peter Ahemba, President Tiv Development Association in Nasarawa State, John Umar, President Mada Youth Association, and Chief Clement Ahar Uhembe, Lecturer, Federal University, Lafia (and former Commissioner for Higher Education, Nasarawa State).

The deliberations that followed the panel discussions occurred in a very peaceful and convivial manner. And at the end of the day participants commended the initiative and concluded that the unity of the Nigerian nation is sacrosanct and must be protected, even as they acknowledged the general leadership failure at Federal, State, Local government levels and the loss of values, as well as the widespread loss of core societal values.

The participants called for more active and responsible participation of the young population in the political process at all levels. They also resolved that for any nation to move forward, there must be peace and security and they called on the government to ensure that peace returns to Nigeria, no matter the price that must be paid. They said government at all levels should be more proactive in just and equitable project and policy implementation, in such a way that all segments of society are included in national development, and all are made to feel a sense of belonging. Such they observed, will help to reduce the crime rate in the society.

They expressed gratitude to Lux Terra and the Savannah Centre for the great job done so far, even as they look forward to the ongoing dialogue process being sustained, as a viable path to resolving the current challenges of the country.

The participants emphasized that the task of promoting the unity, development and peace of the nation is not one for political leaders alone but the collective responsibility of all Nigerians.

Lux Terra with Funding Support from Savannah Centre Holds a Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Unity, Security and Sustainable Development in Kwara State.

In continuation of its dialogue meetings with stakeholders in the North Central geopolitical region of Nigeria, LUX TERRA Leadership Foundation held the Kwara State session in Ilorin on Saturday May 15, 2021.

Such dialogue sessions, meant to harvest the perspectives and recommendations of critical stakeholders on urgent issues of national concern, had earlier taken place in Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa and Niger States.

The Executive Director of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Rev. Fr. George Ehusani, was represented by Joseph Atang who also facilitated the meeting. Mr. Atang said that Lux Terra believes that “the bottom-up approach and the non-governmental status of the conveners of these dialogue sessions, will make the eventual output more acceptable to both the government and a majority of the Nigerian population.”

Participants at the meeting included religious and traditional leaders, representatives of community based organisations, the youth, women, and such professional bodies as Nigerian Union of Journalists, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Medical Association, as well as Farmers and Transhumance Pastoralists.

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.