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Yesterday, Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, a prominent figure, delivered a compelling presentation at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) in Abuja during a seminar titled “Non-State Actors in Crisis Management and Conflict Mitigation: Strategies, Limitations and Opportunities for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa.” His address emphasized the critical need for inclusive security frameworks across the continent.
Fr. Alia advocated for a collaborative approach, urging non-state actors, traditional leaders, faith-based institutions, civil society, and local communities to work hand-in-hand with government agencies to foster sustainable peace. He showcased Benue State as a model of subnational resilience, attributing its success to agricultural industrialization, massive infrastructure development, youth empowerment, and digital governance. These initiatives, he noted, are driving peace, prosperity, and self-reliance within the state’s communities.
In his speech, Fr. Alia redefined true peace, stating it transcends the mere absence of war. He described it as the presence of justice, inclusion, and opportunity. “Together, we must build an Africa that secures itself, feeds itself, and trades with itself,” he declared, inspiring a vision of self-sustaining development.
The seminar, hosted by NISS, provided a platform for critical discussions on enhancing security and development strategies in Africa, with Fr. Alia’s insights adding significant value to the discourse. His call to action resonates as a hopeful blueprint for a united and resilient Africa.
