Nationnewslead reports that Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Timothy Owoeye has described conflict resolution and peaceful co-existence in the society as a major determinant of national development.
Owoeye, who stressed that no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of chaos and violence, said the economy will also take a tumble if the option of conflict resolution is not adopted before it turns violent.
The Speaker, who declared open a three-day training on “Conflict Sensitivity Approach To National Development”, organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Osun State Ministry of Planning, Budget and Development, held in Ede, said Osun is ranked among the most peaceful in the country because the House of Assembly has remained peaceful.
He said: “I congratulate you on this rare opportunity to attend a training that touches on a very sensitive area, which is security. Without security and peace there cannot be any meaningful development in any society. That’s why this is important.
“It is our collective duty to ensure that our state and the nation at large remain peaceful for the benefit of all. As stakeholders in government, we must continue to make our state peaceful. It is part of the dividends of democracy we have promised our people.”
The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development, Prof. Olalekan Yinusa, said efforts must be geared towards ensuring that crises are nipped in the bud before they escalate.
“We must be sensitive to areas where crisis or conflicts can arise from. We need to be more sensitive to the needs of the people we are budgeting for. This is one of the ways of managing conflicts.
“One of the major ways to promote sustainable development, build community cohesion, enhance inclusive governance and guarantee local ownership of development programmes is through constructive engagement with stakeholders, particularly the project beneficiaries in government programmes that affect them,” he said.
The UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Mr. Lealem Dinku, said the aim of the programme is to familiarise participants with concepts and strategies of peace building, conflict resolution, management and resolution in development context.
Also present at the programme organised for the state Executive Council members and lawmakers were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget, Mr. Remi Kolajo; Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Budget, Dr. Bayo Adedokun; Mr Bisi Ogunkale, SSA Research and Statistics Dr Isiaka Olarewaju, Coordinating Director, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget Mr Kunle Akinola among others.
