Niger Delta Post-Conflict Peacebuilding: Social Work Intervention Perspectives

Abstract

The Niger Delta geo-political zone is confronted by multiple violet conflicts and security challenges overtimes as a result of widespread exploitations of the abundant oil reserves without corresponding development. Many peacebuilding initiatives embarked on have failed to yield the desired sustainable peace resolutions due to non-involvement of professional peace practitioners like social workers. Therefore, this study examines the place of social work intervention in Niger Delta post-conflict peacebuilding as a panacea for national cohesion and development. The methodology employed in the study is quantitative and qualitative research technique using questionnaire and In-depth interview. The questionnaire was used to gather data from 50 social workers employed in institutions in Niger Delta. The in-depth interview was tailored towards eliciting information from 10 key informants such as community chiefs, peace and conflict experts and statesmen in Niger Delta. This study is anchored on conflict transformation theoretical framework due to its significance on understanding and explaining conflict management. The result revealed that 94% of the respondents reported poor design and inadequate implementations of peace and conflict management, and 96% of the respondents have not be involved in peacebuilding process in Niger Delta. Therefore, peacebuilding efforts so far have failed to contribute to national cohesion and development. The study recommended that both the government and other stakeholders should see how to integrate social workers in conflict prevention, management and resolution in the Niger Delta in order to fully maximize their peacebuilding potentials.