The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) and the National Institute for Hotel and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) are to collaborate towards engendering peaceful atmosphere that will accelerate the development of tourism potentials that will create job opportunities for the teeming youths in the country. This was made known to newsmen in a press release signed by the information officer of IPCR, Abu I. Michael. Below is full text of the press release.
“The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) and the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) are to collaborate towards engendering peaceful atmosphere that will accelerate the development of tourism potentials that will create job opportunities for the teeming youths in the country. The Director General of the IPCR, Professor Oshita O. Oshita and his NIHOTOUR counterpart, Mrs. Chika Balogun both saw the need for the collaboration while exchanging views during the latter’s courtesy visit on the former at the IPCR complex at the Central Business District of Abuja.
Professor Oshita expressed need for synergy amongst Government’s Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) for the maximization of outputs and optimum use of money and other resources, saying, “the visit of the DG NIHOTOUR to IPCR symbolizes the need for agencies to work together to maximize output and optimize value for money. He noted that it was such intervention from IPCR that encouraged INEC to include the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who naturally would have been disenfranchised in the last general elections for some obvious security reasons. “The meaning of change for me means time to build synergy to contribute tangibly to the Nigerian nation. It is time to avoid waste and create wealth and opportunities for socio-economic development” says the IPCR DG.
He also pointed out the need to make Nigeria an inclusive society to build the peace and togetherness as against the exclusive environment which could create room for disharmony and violence. He noted the need to bring people like the unemployed and other vulnerable groups into the fringes of policy formulation towards attaining genuine peace and to enjoin people of embracing dialogue and civilized alternative dispute mechanisms.
Professor Oshita said IPCR will mobilize the private sector to concretely contribute to the issues of peace because business for him thrives in an atmosphere of peace and that all businesses do benefit from appreciable calmness. He then commended the DG NIHOTOUR for what he described as her “scientific approach” in promoting the activities of her institute and pledged the IPCR partnership with NIHOTOUR for the good of Nigerians.
Earlier, the DG NIHOTOUR, Mrs. Chika Balogun described peace as very essential for the positive development of any society as she expressed the need for organizations to partner with the IPCR to promote the desired peace in the country. Mrs. Balogun solicits for the technical support of the IPCR towards organizing a National Summit on Peace and Tourism and for the training of NIHOTUR officials and students across the country on creating mutual understanding between business entities and their host communities.
According to Mrs. Balogun, “As Mr. President seeks to diversify the economy, hospitality and tourism will become a major player in the mix of sectors to be used because we have low entry barriers to create jobs and are the highest employer of labour globally. We believe that for tourism to thrive peace is necessary and this can be achieved faster by collaborating with your institute to further the needed understanding and collaboration necessary for the growth of sector”.
Already, on the directive of the DG, IPCR has constituted a sub-committee under its Director for Internal Conflict Prevention and Resolution to workout actionable details to give effect to the IPCR-NIHOTOUR partnership, and the co-hosting of the proposed National Summit on Peace and Tourism.”
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