ACADEMIC JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT (AJERM)
Conflict Management and the Livelihood of Strangers in Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State
E-ISSN: 2390-4383
P-ISSN: 1330-3473
DOI: https://iigdpublishers.com/article/1617
This study examined conflict management and the livelihood of strangers in Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The study was motivated by the recognition that unresolved conflicts can disrupt economic activities, weaken social relationships, destroy productive assets and negatively affect the welfare of people who live and work outside their places of origin. The study specifically examined the extent to which negotiation and dialogue influence the livelihood of strangers in terms of income generation and employment; the extent to which mediation influences business/economic and agricultural activities; and the extent to which traditional and community-based conflictmanagement mechanisms influence the protection of household assets, food security and standard of living. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design and was complemented by secondary research evidence from relevant scholarly studies, reports and documented literature on conflict management and livelihood in Nigeria, particularly Nasarawa State. The study focused on strangers residing, working, trading or undertaking other legitimate livelihood activities in Mararaba. The findings from the reviewed secondary evidence indicated that negotiation and dialogue contribute to the protection of income-generating and employment opportunities by reducing tensions and creating opportunities for peaceful settlement of disputes. Mediation was found to help protect business, economic and agricultural activities by preventing disputes from escalating into conflicts that could disrupt access to markets, employment, land and other productive resources. The findings further indicated that traditional and community-based conflict-management mechanisms can contribute to the protection of household assets, food security and standard of living by promoting peaceful coexistence, reconciliation and community-level dispute resolution. The study concluded that effective conflict management is an important condition for sustainable livelihood security among strangers in Mararaba. It therefore recommended the strengthening of inclusive dialogue platforms, accessible and impartial mediation mechanisms, and collaboration between traditional/community-based institutions and formal government conflict-management structures.
Augustine Omoh Unoarumi
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