NGO Supports Youths To Bolster Peace In Katsina State

An International NGO, Mercy Corps, has organised a two-day youths dialogue to create awareness and promote Youth Peace and Security (YPS) in Katsina State.

The dialogue was in collaboration with the state government, Centre for Democracy Development (CDD), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and funded by the European Union, EU.

The state’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Alhaji Lawal Aliyu, during the dialogue in Katsina on Wednesday, said the event was a welcome development.

Alhaji Aliyu said; “the main issue of concern in the state nowadays is security, which he said, has been the priority of Gov. Dikko Radda’s administration.

“That is why, when we heard about this dialogue for security and development, we welcomed them warmly.

“This is because they pinched us where it was scratching us. So, Mercy Corps came to put our youths in the state together in order to discuss the issue of security.”

“Security is a dynamic issue. It’s something that if you want to have it, it is beyond using weapons.

“With only weapons, you cannot achieve the full and desired security that we need in Katsina state. We need to sit down and discuss,” he said.

Aliyu therefore, urged the participants, who were mostly from the front-line areas, to think of the way out of the security quagmire facing the state.

He said: ”All the participants are important, because they represent a segment of the society and speak on behalf of their communities.

“So, I would like to urge all of you to please, for the sake of our people, state and our communities, sit down, listen, contribute and bring out solutions.

“We hope that at the end of your discussions, you bring out a communique that will help resolve the issue of security in the state.

“We have a belief that the youth of this state can bring a solution, and the solution is coming from you, because you are part of the larger society,”he explained.

Aliyu advised the participants that action plans at the end of the dialogue must be targeted at activities that would promote peace.

The Mercy Corps Senior Programme Manager, Mr Philip Ikita, said the youth were a very critical group, adding, ”therefore, they have a vital role in promoting peace and security in the state.”

According to him, the society and communities are powered by the youths.

Mr Ikita said; ”Even banditry is driven by youth. And to end it, it is youth that must neutralise it.

“So, all of us have a role to play in addressing any conflict. But we thank God, over the past year, we are happy that things are getting more calm.

“We are happy that violence and other criminal activities are reducing in some communities. And we hope that some of the action plans you’re going to do will address that.”

The dialogue was organised through the Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation in North-West Nigeria (CMCR-NW) project, focusing on Batsari, Danmusa, Jibia and Kankara LGAs.

NAN/ Mercy Chukwudiebere