NGO prioritizes Youth inclusiveness in Conflict prevention, resolution

A non-Governmental Organisation in Nigeria, Safer World Foundation has advocated the prioritization of Youth and Community inclusiveness which is key to sustainable conflict prevention as well as resolution in communities across Nigeria.

This comes as communities in North-East Nigeria, gradually stabilizes and are facing post-conflict reconstruction factors that can make individuals susceptible to joining violent extremist groups.

Recall that over a decade of violence, boko haram terrorists had succeeded in its recruitment strategies with Hundreds of civilians including women and children being abducted and forced to participate in the group’s violent activities. However, thousands of men and women had joined of their own accord.

In view of this, Safer World Foundation has organised training for members of the communities to enhance their capacity in conflict management to address existing and emerging conflicts in Adamawa state, North East, Nigeria.

The training which was tagged “Capacity Building for Youths, Community Leaders and Local Authorities on Peace building, Inclusive Decision Making and Sustainable Development Goals.”

The project is part of Youth inclusion Youth inclusion in Democratic Conflict Resolution and Civic Education in Adamawa State in collaboration with the Nigerian North East Connection with support from United States Agency for International Development.

A total of 90 participants were drawn from 3 Local governments Areas of Demsa, Mubi North and Mubi South which includes ; youth leaders, community leaders, women leaders, religious leaders and informal security personnel.

The Project officer of Safer World Foundation, Mr. Ogu Ifeanyi said that the aim of the project is “to reduce the risk of recruitment of community members by extremist organizations by engaging communities in prevention activities and increasing the leadership roles of young people in addressing local drivers of conflict and fragility in the North–east, Enhance youth’s participation in conflict prevention, mitigation, and management, Increase youth’s access to democratic decision-making on local development and economic empowerment initiatives,’’ he said.

In 2015, the UN Security Council adopted landmark resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security, acknowledging for the first time the important role youths can play in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and as a key aspect of the sustainability, inclusiveness and success of peacekeeping and peace building efforts.

Security Council resolution 2250 set the framework around five pillars: Participation, Protection, Prevention, Partnerships and Disengagement and Reintegration, highlighting the role young women and men play in the promotion of international peace and security.

In an agreement to this, Mr. Ifeanyi said the Foundation is engaging young people and  community leaders in peace efforts, decision-making and institutional reform processes to provide an opportunity for them  to constructively influence areas that directly impact their lives.

“This project will promote democratic processes through civic education and democratic conflict resolution to improve youth leadership and set an inclusive decision-making process to prevent the continued marginalization of young people in the state” He explained.

One of facilitators, Mr. Gaius Dachet tasked the participants on the need to engage in harmonious means of reconciling disputes when the need arises.

Speaking on the gains of the training, the Community Head, Magaji Usman of Hurda community, Mubi North LGA who commended Safer World and its partners, said that the knowledge acquired will go a long way to providing solutions to the challenges faced by some of the communities.