Center For Media & Peace Initiative Inc

Programs: November 3, 2017, center for media & peace initiatives and school of public affairs and administration, rutgers university, newark, new jersey held its annual conference on media and democratic governance. Dr. Charles menifield, dean school of public affairs and administration, rutgers university and dr. Uchenna ekwo, president, center for media & peace initiatives addressed the plenary session of the conference on media & democratic governance that was renamed gershowitz conference to immortalize the late dr. Michael gershowitz who was chair of the steering committee for the annual conference. The widow of the late prof. Gershowitz, tora and son, gabriel attended the opening. The theme of the 2017 conference was "politics, power, and populism: media framing of global migration". The conference planning committee chose the theme of the conference in recognition of vital role journalists to play in matters of social discourse and international understanding. Admittedly, media professionals report on relevant topics, some of which trigger debate including global challenges such as social polarization, migration, and climate change, multilateral collaboration etc. In addition, the forum was designed to illustrate how cmpi implements its mission in practice, and to showcase its activities, achievements, and developments to date at all levels. Cmpi is a think tank nonprofit organization that communicates innovative and peaceful solutions to global challenges. The conference sessions were, therefore, designed to provide participants with an in-depth understanding of the growing social polarization, media framing of immigration debate across countries especially in the united states. The report of the conference is published and circulated among news organizations and to all participants. It is also available on cmpi website and facebook page.

october 10, 2017, cmpi organized its public lecture event. It hosted the deputy president of the senate of the federal republic of nigeria, dr. Ike ekweremadu who addressed the critical issues about "constitutionalism and challenges of leadership in africa". The vent was well attended by diplomats, journalists, business leaders, and civil society leaders. The event was an opportunity for cmpi to present critical challenges of africa in relation to the rule of law and sustenance of constitutional government as a panacea to reducing violent conflicts in the region arising from power vacuum and inordinate ambition of some leaders.

april 26, 2017- may 6, 2017: cmpi delegation visited sudan to assess the health of media in the country and determine critical training needs of journalists after years of war complicated by the biting economic sanctions against the country by the united states. The delegation led by dr. Uchenna ekwo met with journalists, human rights organization, business leaders, and civil society groups notably the sudanese journalists union, sudanese vision newspaper group, sudan press freedom organization, national group for human rights, global relations center, national academy for training and capacity building, and sudanese businessmen & employers' federation. After the visit, cmpi determined the training priorities for the region and planned a training program for reporters, editors, civil society leaders on peace education.