By Amara Agha, Abakaliki
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ebonyi State, Dr. Ben Odoh, has revealed that 90 percent of crises recorded across communities in the state stem from disputes linked to mineral deposits. He said this underscores the urgent need for effective and equitable management of the state’s natural resources to promote peace and development.
Odoh made the remarks at the grand finale of the Tertiary Institutions Debate held on Tuesday at the Ministry of Justice, Centenary City, Abakaliki. The event, themed “Mobilizing Collective Efforts for the Actualization of the People’s Charter of Needs: Mineral Resources as a Catalyst for Peace and Development in Ebonyi State,” was jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Resources Development.
He explained that the debate aimed to educate young people on responsible resource management as a pathway to preventing conflicts and fostering economic growth.
“The debate is not only to encourage students academically but also to enlighten them on the need to use our resources as catalysts for peace and development,” Odoh said. “Ebonyi is blessed with vast mineral resources, and if harnessed properly, they can significantly boost our economic growth.”
He added that peace and justice remain central to the People’s Charter of Needs, stressing that preventing crises is far easier and less costly than resolving them. “The youths must see themselves as ambassadors of peace,” he said.
Represented by Mr. Jacob Ekuma, Head of Monitoring, the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Resources Development, Mr. Chidi Onyia, emphasized that equitable resource management involving host communities could foster unity, create jobs, and drive economic advancement.
He listed key minerals found in Ebonyi State, including brine (salt), granite, lead ore (galena), sand, limestone, barytes, marble, and gypsum. “The aim of the debate is to find solutions on how mineral resources can drive development rather than crisis,” he added.
Chief Judge of the competition, Mr. Charles Chukwu, disclosed that 30 students registered for the debate, but only six reached the final stage. At the end of the keenly contested finale, Gold Egwu, a 200-level Nursing Science student of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI), emerged winner with 90 points.
Anyigor Basil, a 400-level Physiology student of Ebonyi State University (EBSU), came second with 78 points, while Ezekiel Mbam, a 200-level Physiology student of EBSU, secured third place with 68 points.
Chukwu announced that all three winners will receive one-year tuition support to aid their academic pursuits.
