Cleen Foundation hits Southern Kaduna, initiates peace building process

NIGERIA

In its efforts to add to strategies for tolerance amongst troubled ridden communities in Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nirthwest Nigeria, an Abuja based Non Governmental Organization, Cleen Foundation on Wednesday initiated a peace building process in the area.
In a workshop tagged “Strengthening Community Resilience through Peace Building” held in Kafanchan, Headquarters, Jemaa Local Government Area of the state, the NGO identified stakeholders within the communities that will drive peace building activities.

In an address, the Executive Director of the NGO, Dr Benson Olugbuo who was represented by Oluwale Ojewale said, the project intended to leverage on existing community structures such as religious institutions, schools and civil society organizations to identify vulnerable youths who are susceptible to violence to serve as peace advocates in the area.

The Foundation would partner the Kaduna State Peace Commission in the responsibility of addressing ethno-religious conflicts with a view to curbing the menace of civil unrest in the state.

According to him, “to achieve these objectives, we have mapped out a few activities on this project to include, Baseline Study, Youth against Violent Extreemism, Forum (YAVEF) and Intergeneration Mentoring and Dialogue”.

Chairman, Kaduna State Peace Commission, Barrister Priscilla Anku who was represented by Alhaji Iliasu Musa of Jemaatu Nasirul Islam (JNI), Jemaa local government chapter, appreciated efforts of the NGO on peace building in the area adding that, the commission had reconciled the affected communities to one another.

Project Officer, Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Mrs. Ann Iyonu, in a paper presentation stressed the need for youths to assume leadership responsibility through active participation in governmental activities, adding that youths were a social resource that can be used to achieve peaceful coexistence.

She tasked the youths to develop the interest in  news from reliable media outfits to be acquainted with government’s policies and programmes to avoid being misinformed.

In a remark, the Tum Ninkyob, Ninkyob Traditional Council, Mr Tanko Tete, represented by Mr Moses Barde said, the workshop was well intended as it targeted the youth who according to him constitute a high percentage of Nigeria’s population.

Barde cautioned the youths not to be used as agents to cause civil unrest especially as the nation geared towards political activities.

A participant, Obadiah Jeremiah expressed satisfaction over the workshop as it will consolidate on the already existing peaceful atmosphere in the area.

The event had in attendance, representatives of religious organizations, youths groups and the civil society organisations.
POSTED BY EDITOR