The Professional Training Program recently conducted its first training workshop in the Niger Delta, held in Yenagoa, Nigeria April 19-21, 2006.
The Professional Training Program recently conducted its first training workshop in the Niger Delta, held in Yenagoa, Nigeria April 19-21, 2006. The workshop was also the first held with a new local partner, Our Niger Delta, very capably led by Dimieari Von Kemedi. Participants were young and dynamic individuals chosen for their potential to help influence the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the Niger Delta. They represented a broad spectrum of activist non-governmental and civil society organizations that have considerable influence throughout the
Delta. Local government and NGOs and women´s groups also participated.
The workshop included a primary focus on capacity building in the core conflict resolution skills of communications, negotiation and working with third parties. The participants also reflected on their personal styles of responding to conflict and discussed situations in which these styles were most appropriate. They practiced their newly honed skills in participatory role plays and simulations from which lessons were drawn on how to apply these new skills to real-world situations. The workshop concluded with the opportunity to brainstorm solutions and create plans for future activities to implement creative ways to resolve conflicts without use of violence. The participants were eager to apply the skills from the workshop to the myriad issues that present conflict resolution challenges in the Niger Delta.
