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Anambra East Communities Sign Historic Peace Accord as Rotary, ASTUC Youth Intensify Campaign Against Communal Clashes
By Michael Ovat | Awka
In a significant move to end communal hostilities and promote peaceful coexistence, youth leaders from 11 communities in Anambra East Local Government Area have signed a historic Peace Accord, committing themselves to dialogue, conflict prevention and sustainable development.
The accord was reached on Saturday, October 31, 2026, during a one-day Youth Peace Summit organised by the Rotary Action Group for Peace (RAGFP), District 9142, Rotary International, in collaboration with the Office of the Anambra State Town Union Council (ASTUC) Youth Mayor.
The summit, held at the Anambra East Local Government Council Headquarters, Otuocha, brought together youth leaders from Umuoba Anam, Enugwu Aguleri, Aguleri, Umuleri, Nsugbe, Ikem Ivite, Nando, Igbariam, Eziagulu-Otu, Enugu-Otu and Mkpunando.
The gathering focused on strengthening youth leadership capacity, promoting peacebuilding, preventing communal conflicts and equipping young leaders with practical approaches to resolving disputes in their respective communities.
Delivering the first keynote address, titled “Effective Youth Leadership: A Panacea for Sustainable Peacebuilding, Conflict Prevention and Dispute Resolution in the Communities,” Special Guest Speaker, Dr. Dennis Chukwukelu Ekemezie, challenged the youth leaders to become frontline ambassadors of peace.
Dr. Ekemezie maintained that young people possess the capacity to prevent conflicts if they channel their energy towards constructive engagement rather than violence.
He identified land disputes, misinformation, rumours, youth unemployment and the manipulation of young people as major triggers of communal crises.
He urged the youth leaders to prioritise communication over confrontation and promote economic cooperation among neighbouring communities as a pathway to lasting peace.
According to him, “If the youths have the strength to fight conflict, they have double the power to enforce peace. The future of our communities depends largely on the choices young people make today.”
The second presentation was delivered by the ASTUC Youth Liaison Officer, Anambra North, and Chairman of the Rotary Action Group for Peace, District 9142, PAG Obiudu Chidi M., PHF.
Speaking on the topic, “The Role of the Youths in Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention,” Obiudu emphasised the importance of proactive youth participation in maintaining peace and preventing disputes from escalating into communal violence.
Both speakers stressed that peace cannot be achieved through government intervention or the authority of traditional rulers alone, but requires deliberate commitment and collective action, particularly from young people.
They also called for the establishment of sustainable inter-community dialogue platforms and early-warning mechanisms to identify and address potential sources of conflict before they escalate.
11 Communities Adopt Historic Peace Accord
The high point of the summit was a press briefing and the adoption of a communiqué, alongside the signing of a historic Peace Accord by the 11 participating Community Youth Leaders.
Under the agreement, the youth leaders resolved to:
- Ensure the immediate cessation of all forms of violence and media warfare across Anambra East.
- Establish a permanent Inter-Community Youth Peace Council (ICYPC), with monthly meetings to be held on a rotational basis.
- Combat rumours, misinformation and inflammatory narratives through direct communication and cross-community verification.
- Channel all land and boundary disputes through appropriate traditional, town union and legal mechanisms.
- Protect human lives, farmlands and shared community infrastructure.
- Initiate joint economic activities and sporting programmes to strengthen relationships, build mutual trust and promote peaceful coexistence.
The Peace Accord was subsequently signed by all 11 Community Youth Leaders, with representatives of the Rotary Action Group for Peace and the ASATU/ASTUC youth leadership serving as witnesses.
ASTUC Youth Mayor Pledges New Era of Peace
Speaking on behalf of the youth leaders, the ASTUC Youth Mayor expressed appreciation to the Rotary Action Group for Peace, District 9142, Dr. Dennis Ekemezie and other stakeholders for investing in youth leadership development and peacebuilding in the Omambala region.
He assured stakeholders that the youths of Anambra East were ready to embrace a new culture of dialogue, unity and mutual understanding.
He declared that “Anambra East youths will henceforth be known for peace, not clashes,” reaffirming the collective commitment of the participating communities to implementing the resolutions reached at the summit.
The summit ended with renewed optimism and a collective determination to change the narrative of Anambra East from one associated with communal disputes to a region driven by unity, economic prosperity and purposeful youth leadership.
The establishment of the Inter-Community Youth Peace Council is expected to provide a sustainable platform for dialogue, collaboration and early intervention in disputes among the participating communities.
For the organisers and participating youth leaders, the message was clear: lasting peace in Anambra East must begin with the people, and the youths are determined to lead the process.
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