The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta has intensified peacebuilding efforts across Bayelsa and Delta States through a weeklong series of arts and culture solidarity events.
The programme, which ran from August 18 to 23, 2025, created platforms for dialogue and cultural exchange to confront challenges such as oil bunkering, artisanal refining, and cult-related violence that continue to undermine peace and stability in the region.
According to a statement, PIND’s Peacebuilding Manager, Dr. David Udofia, who represented the Executive Director, Sam Daibo, said the initiative sought to unite communities by turning art and culture into tools for reconciliation.
“The central objective is to utilise art and culture as unifiers and peacebuilding tools to address violence and criminality in Bayelsa and Delta communities,” Udofia said. He added that the programme also addressed root causes of conflict, including unemployment, social exclusion, and environmental degradation.
Over 2,200 participants drawn from 10 communities took part in the events.
In Delta State, participants came from Ohoro and Agbarha in the Ughelli North Local Government Area and Ovwian and Otor-Udu in the Udu LGA.
In Bayelsa, the participating communities included Etieama, Agbakabiriyai, Igbeta Ewoama, and Akakukama in Nembe LGA; Igbomotoro and Opuama in Southern Ijaw LGA; and Kotikiri, Kongho, and Odioma in Brass LGA.
The week featured music, drama, dance, and symbolic unity ceremonies to foster reconciliation and discourage violence. Communities were encouraged to adopt dialogue and joint problem-solving platforms as preventive measures against conflict.
Udofia noted that the approach had proven effective in building trust among women, youths, and other excluded groups.
“These approaches have proven effective in building trust, especially for women, youth, and other groups that are often excluded,” he said, stressing that this year’s edition was designed to deepen the impact of earlier interventions.
The project, known as the Community-Centred Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence, is funded by the European Union and implemented with Search for Common Ground and Stakeholder Democracy Network.
Traditional leaders described the programme as both timely and impactful. Chairman of the Odioma Kingdom Council of Chiefs, Sunday Ikpoki, said the initiative had helped communities to take greater ownership of peace.
“Using our cultural heritage to preach peace is a very thoughtful initiative. We are now more conscious of what happens in our communities and are working with security agents to stop anything that could lead to conflict,” he said.
By blending heritage celebration with collective problem-solving, PIND’s arts and culture initiative is gradually emerging as a sustainable model for peacebuilding in the fragile Niger Delta region.
