On Tuesday, May 28, Coal City University, Enugu took another giant stride as it unveiled the Centre for Intelligence, Security and Peace Studies (CISPS). The event held at the university’s ultra-modern auditorium marked a significant milestone on the institution’s commitment towards contributing to security and peace which are the most important paths to sustainable development. The establishment of the centre is part of the university’s contribution to the urgent need to address the security challenges we have been facing as a people in the south east and in the country more broadly with a novel and evidence based approach. It is a think-thank to engage the subject and contribute to the search for sustainable peace and security upon which there cannot be development.
The Director of the centre Dr. Hope Henry Iwuchukwu in her address warmly welcomed everyone, most especially the GOC 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major-General HT Dada, heads of security agencies in Enugu and their counterparts from other parts of the south east. She emphasized that; “the centre is an important contribution to national development. It aims to resolve the root causes of insecurity tangled in a profound crisis of values, communal disaffection and recrimination, unresolved grievances and unaddressed cries for justice, separatist narratives evolving in response to a pervasive sense of alienation, an ethical erosion evidenced in the decay of politics and leadership, rise of violent crime and routinization of violence symbolized by the convergence occult practices, youth gangstarism and unaddressed resentments.”
Dr. Iwuchukwu further stressed that; “the leadership of Coal City University, initiated the CISPS as a think-thank to engage the subject and contribute to the search for sustainable peace and security upon which there cannot be development. This came on the heels of the worrisome trend and its attendant consequences; the growing recognition that the total resilience on highly secrutinized approaches to ending insecurity in Nigeria has widened the existing gap between government and the people, and deepened the reputational damage to security institutions.”
The Director revealed that; “the management of CCU, Enugu saw the need to establish the CISPS to complement the efforts of government including the defence and security forces to counteract the growing alienation between the people and their government, offer proactive measures against insecurity and provide efficient and effective peace-building and security architecture with reliable intelligence gathering processes, teaching, consulting activities and cutting edge innovative research which focuses not only on contemporary security concerns but also anticipate future challenges and opportunities. The centre is poised to serve as an institutional platform to:
*Develop and transfer multi-disciplinary knowledge to equip our students for security and intelligence responsibilities aimed at improving law enforcement services in Criminal Justice Agencies, the military, customs, immigration, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Road Safety, state and local governments.
*Build capacity through the activities of the center which would contribute to promoting security and peace in the catchment area of the University and beyond.
*Offer a certificate programme in intelligence, security and peace studies that will inculcate in students the ability to critically examine the extent and explanations of intelligence and security problems in the local and global context.
*Teach the rudiments of efficient and ethical –prone research in intelligence, security and peace studies with practical demonstration where necessary.
The keynote Lecture entitled *“Securing the South East for Sustainable Peace and Development: The Role of Government and Responsibility of the Society”* was delivered by Dr. Nnnaemka Okereke, Chief Research Fellow/Research Coordinator, National Defence College, Abuja. He emphasized the need for better collaboration between the people and the security architecture as way out for sustainable peace and security.
Another speaker at the event was erudite Prof. Felix Asogwa, a member of the centre’s faculty who spoke extensively and authoritatively on *The Imperative of Community Policing in Societies in Distress.”* After bringing to the fore, the strategic role of the police in contemporary society, he advised that state-centric policing is outdated and recommended a community centric-policing approach to addressing the rising security challenges bedeviling the country. Other speaker who shared valuable insights on the theme of the event entitled; “The Future of State Policing in Nigeria: A Focus on South East” was Prof. Declan Onwudiwe of the centre’s faculty who was represented by Dr. Smart Otu, Alex Ekwueme University Ndufu Ikwo, Ebonyi State. The speaker recommended an overhaul of the Nigerian police with emphasis on creation of state police for efficiency in crime prevention, security of lives and peace building.
Earlier, the Special Guest of Honour, General Officer commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army Enugu, Major General Hassan T Dada underscored the role peace and security plays in societal development and pledged the unalloyed support of the military to the progress and growth of the centre. He urged the public to avail the security agencies of the necessary support needed to fight crime, criminality and non-state actors threatening the peace of South-East and Nigeria at large.
In his opening remarks, the elated Vice Chancellor, Prof. Afam Ichia-Ituma stressed that; “one of the most important paths to sustainable development is peace and security. The establishment of the Centre for Intelligence, Security and Peace Studies by Coal City University Senate is part of the university’s contribution to the urgent need to address the security challenges we have been facing as a people in the south east and in the country more broadly with a novel and evidence based approach.
The Vice chancellor further pointed out that the university senate, “believes that intelligence, security and peacebuilding methods must continually evolve to remain effective. We must understand that security transcends ‘jackboots on ground’ – i.e. hard core policing and/or military operations. It goes far beyond building up defence and security manpower, and amassing or collecting weapon systems so that in the event of a threat situation, the state could meet the challenges. More strategically, security must first centre on the enactment of inclusive socio-economic and political policy regimes that can guarantee stability and continuity of a minimum viable livelihood above poverty-line.”
The ceremony was graced by various heads of security agencies in Enugu and other parts of south east. Also in attendance were the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Afam Ichia-Ituma, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sylvester Igwe, University Librarian Stephen Ani, Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Felicia Moh, Head of Department, Mass Communication, Prof. Nnamdi Okenwa, Deans of Faculties, Heads of departments, staff and students. There were goodwill messages from the heads of Customs, NDLEA, NSCDC and a special presentation by Students of the Department of International Relations
Sent in by Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, Lecturer Department of Mass Communication, Coal City University, Enugu
