AFRYDEF

Mobilizing Imo Youths for Peaceful and Sustainable Development Initiatives in Imo State, Nigeria.

With the support of the Imo State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, the African Youth Development Foundation (AFRYDEF) organized a two-day Young Peoples’ Forum for youth leaders drawn from the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State, Nigeria between September 3-4, 2000 in Owerri.

The dramatic turn of events in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria resulting to loss of lives and properties by violent activities orchestrated by militants and cultists necessitated the organization of this forum, which was aimed at:

• Unveiling the Imo State Government Youth Development plan as a youth empowerment, job creation and poverty reduction strategy for Imo youths.

• Equipping participating youth leaders with practical leadership and conflict management skills that will enable them mitigate conflicts within and among their respective groups.

• Exposing the participants to the various dynamics of conflict and their resolution styles.

• Exposing the participants to “Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms”, such as Negotiation, Mediation, Arbitration, Conciliation, Reconciliation, etc.

• Introducing the participants to Group Dynamics and Group processes as well as techniques of Collaborative Problem solving and Consensus Negotiation.

• Assisting the participants in forming the first ever “Imo State Youth Conflict Resolution Network” connecting all the youth associations in the 27 Local Government Areas of the State.

USAID/OTI certified Master Trainers and WANEP Southeast Peace building Trainers were engaged to lead the two-day impact making workshop in Imo State, which culminated in the inauguration of the first ever “Imo State Youth Conflict Resolution Network”.