Date: 9 July, 2026
By Abraham Ovuoba
ABAKALIKI – At a time when communities across Nigeria continue to grapple with unemployment, youth restiveness, communal conflicts and widening social inequalities, a new development-driven organisation has emerged in Ebonyi State with a promise to bridge the gap through partnerships, innovation and citizen engagement.
The Pacemedia Foundation for Youth, Women and Community Development formally unveiled its development agenda in Abakaliki on Thursday, bringing together government officials, development experts, media practitioners, civil society organisations, academia, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to chart a new course for sustainable development.
The event, which also featured the inauguration of the Foundation’s Advisory Board and the unveiling of its strategic projects, served as a platform to rally support for initiatives aimed at promoting peacebuilding, youth leadership, women empowerment and community transformation.
A renowned development expert and Chairman of the Foundation’s Advisory Board, Dr. Ibiam Azu, described partnership as the bedrock of sustainable development, stressing that today’s complex social and economic challenges require collective action rather than isolated efforts.
Delivering a keynote address titled “Building Partnerships for Sustainable Development,” Azu challenged members of the newly inaugurated Advisory Board to move beyond ceremonial responsibilities by serving as strategic ambassadors capable of attracting grants, technical support and innovative ideas that would strengthen the Foundation’s interventions.
According to him, development thrives where governments, development partners, civil society organisations, the media, academic institutions and local communities work together with a shared vision.
He noted that the Board would play a vital role in providing strategic direction, strengthening accountability and ensuring that programmes initiated by the Foundation produce measurable and lasting impacts.
Chairman of the occasion and Executive Director of DIG Foundation, Oliver Ajah Chima, described the Foundation’s founder, Comrade Israel Ekene Mbam, as a passionate development practitioner whose commitment to humanitarian service has remained consistent over the years.
Recalling their early years in civil society advocacy, Chima said Mbam had steadily built credibility through selfless service and community engagement.
“I know people who are serious from the way they begin. With the foundation you are laying today, you will go far,” he stated.
He assured the Foundation of the support of DIG Foundation and other development partners, expressing confidence that its programmes would contribute significantly to community development not only in Ebonyi State but across Nigeria and the African continent.
Earlier, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pacemedia Foundation, Comrade Israel Ekene Mbam, said the organisation was established to build peaceful, inclusive and sustainable communities by leveraging strategic partnerships, media advocacy and people-centred development initiatives.
He explained that the Foundation would focus on peacebuilding and conflict prevention, civic education, democratic governance, youth leadership, entrepreneurship, women empowerment, media development and community transformation.
Mbam described the inauguration of the Advisory Board as a defining moment in the Foundation’s history, noting that members were selected based on integrity, competence and proven records of service.
According to him, the event was not merely ceremonial but a deliberate effort to mobilise stakeholders toward finding practical solutions to pressing societal challenges.
Tracing the origin of the Foundation, Mbam disclosed that the vision began in 2006 when he developed a passion for using journalism and mass communication as instruments for social change.
He explained that the idea later evolved into media and civil society initiatives, including the establishment of People’s Guide Newspaper, before eventually giving birth to Pacemedia Foundation.
The development advocate added that years of working with experienced professionals in the development sector reinforced his conviction that sustainable progress can only be achieved through collaboration among stakeholders.
He called on governments, development agencies, private sector organisations, civil society groups, community leaders and the media to embrace the Foundation as a common platform for promoting peace, creating opportunities and improving livelihoods.
The event also attracted goodwill messages from stakeholders across various sectors, including academia, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and the media.
Among them were Prof. Ifeyinwa Nsude, Dr. Stephen Elem (Galaxy) and Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State Council, Comrade Samson Nwafor, who applauded the initiative and urged the Foundation to sustain its commitment to peacebuilding.
The speakers observed that recurring communal conflicts had slowed development in many communities across Ebonyi State, stressing that sustained dialogue, advocacy and inclusive development remain critical to achieving lasting peace.
They further described Mbam as a source of inspiration to young people and pledged continued collaboration, institutional support and media visibility to help the Foundation realise its vision of building resilient communities through strategic partnerships and active citizen participation.
For many participants, the unveiling of Pacemedia Foundation represents more than the birth of another non-governmental organisation. It signals a renewed commitment to community-driven development anchored on peace, inclusion, accountability and partnerships capable of delivering lasting social transformation.
