INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PEACE, SECURITY & DEVELOPMENT: Lake Chad Inhabitants Told to Enhance Peaceful Co-existence & Meaningful Development.

 

The three days’ International Conference on Issues in Peace, Security and Development in Fombina Area of Lake Chad organized by Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, in collaboration with Fombina Studies Association, has come to a close with a call on inhabitants of the entire region to enhance peaceful co-existence and ensure meaningful development in all phases.

 

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, made the call through his representative, Dr. Ahmad Sajoh, revealing that contrary to the often mistaken notion that the Ministry is either meant for the North, or just the nomadic cattle herders; the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development was established to lead and coordinate diverse actors at the local, national, continental and international levels to scale up reforms and stimulate investment in the livestock sector as a catalyst for economic development and poverty eradication in Nigeria.

‘’ In this pursuit, the Ministry is committed to transforming the livestock sector from its current subsistent level into a thriving commercialized industry, providing jobs and sustainable livelihood through the deployment of innovative technologies and broad level investment along all the livestock value chains. The nexus between the livestock sector and an enduring peace within our communities lies in the fact that peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of a shared prosperity. The Ministry of Livestock Development has been charged by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinibu to ensure that we develop an institutional framework that addresses all drivers and triggers of conflicts involving the livestock sector. We are committed to doing that with the understanding that these drivers and triggers of conflicts within the sector are totally avoidable and can be eliminated.’’   

Addressing the gathering, Chief Host, Professor Ibrahim Umar, Vice Chancellor, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, explained that over two centuries, the Fombina area - spanning Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, have been a cradle of cultural exchange, resilience and transformations. Notwithstanding, the area experience wave of multi-faceted challenges such as insurgency, resource conflicts, displacement and under-development.

‘’ These issues not only making regional instability, but also demand collective and inter-disciplinary solutions. This conference represents more than an academic exercise. It is a clarion call to bridge knowledge and action by convening experts, policy makers and stakeholders across the Lake Chad basin, we aimed to foster a cross pollination of ideas, synthesize historical insights with modern realities and chat actionable pathways towards sustainable peace, security as well as inclusive development in the Fombina area of the Lake Chad region. The diversity of this assembly, is in its greatest strength, amongst us are historians, security analysts, development practitioners, educationists, agriculturalists, and traditional rulers.’’    

In his keynote address, Professor Umar Pate, Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Kashere, posited that this region commonly referred to as FOMBINA, meaning SOUTH in Fulfulde, corresponds with the southern part of the Lake Chad basin and encompasses parts of north-eastern Nigeria - notably Adamawa, Borno, and Taraba States, northern Cameroon, southern Chad, and south eastern Niger.

   

‘’ It serves as a nexus of inter-ethnic and inter-religious groups co-existing sometimes with tensions, but often with shared history and culture. These diversities have historically serve as sources of strength and resilience. However, in the contemporary context they have also become flash points for identity based tensions, competition over resources, environmental pressures, and structural challenges compounded by climate change, insurgency and violent extremism, state fragility, cross boarder criminality and targeted misinformation; all resulting in significant contemporary challenges that subvert and undermined peace, security and development.’’   

The Chairman, Fombina Studies Association, Professor Alkasum Abba stressed that the conference marks an important milestone in their collective efforts in promoting the development of the region, adding that they are not unmindful of the fact that to be relevant, they must strive to address complex challenges facing the Fombina region through the promotion of collaborative research as well as enhancing the research skills of their young academicians.

‘’ Indeed, we are proud to note that our vision on forging institutional linkages and collaborative research effort is identical with the vision of the Vice Chancellor of Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Professor Ibrahim Umar. In this regard, let me register our profound appreciation to him and recognize his enormous support for hosting this international conference.  Indeed, our association will continue to engage in organizing high level academic conferences, workshops and seminars to serve as forum that bring together researchers to present findings exchange ideas and forge partnerships. Most importantly, we strive to ensure that our researcher work is not confine to academic circles or left to languish in our libraries, rather we will ensure that it is translated into actionable policy recommendations for Governments, regional organizations and development agencies operating within our region.’’   

Earlier, Professor Abubakar Abba Tahir, Kaakaakey Fombina, gives an overview of the Fombina Studies Association which is a scholarly organization based in Nigeria, dedicated to the research, preservation, and promotion of cultural and historical heritage of the Fombina region - an area historically associated with the Adamawa Emirate, encompassing parts of the present-day Adamawa and Taraba States in Nigeria, as well as regions in northern Cameroon, southern Chad, and south eastern Niger.

‘’ We should all be grateful to ourselves that after several painstaking years of conception and time, at last our dream of hosting this important international conference has been realized. This marks a significant milestone in our collective journey towards building a more peaceful, secure and prosperouse society not only in Nigeria, but across Africa, especially in the Lake Chad area. The theme of this conference is not only timely, but essentially it reflects the urgent need for dialogue, collaboration and knowledge exchange in a breath-taking complex and multi-faceted challenges of Fombina people and countries in the 21^st century. The organizers and the host of this conference are excited to welcome scholars, policy makers and stakeholders who willingly assembled here in pursuit of solutions. ‘’

 

Peace, security and development conferences offer numerous benefits, both immediate and long-term. Therefore, this conference serves as platform for dialogue, policy development, and cooperative action.

 

The conference provides a neutral platform for stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, civil societies, and other groups to engage in open discussions which will assist in peace, security and development by fostering communication between participants.

 

It also facilitates the development of coherent policies on peacekeeping, counterterrorism, disarmament, and regional security, which encourages the harmonization of national and regional strategies.

 

The conference enhances the skills and knowledge of participants and offer technical support and share best practices in peacebuilding and conflict management.

 

Such conferences foster partnerships among international organizations, governments, academia, and local communities, which helps in building alliances and coalitions for joint peace and security initiatives.