Writing by Isma’il Adamu; Editing by Basirat Memudu
The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has called for proactiveness among stakeholders in the management of conflict in the country, with emphasis on early detection and mitigation of risk factors of conflict.
The Director-General of the institute, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, stated this in Katsina while on an advocacy visit to engage with stakeholders preparatory to the launch of the National Conflict Early Warning Early Response System in the State.
The newly launched crisis prevention initiative is being implemented by the National Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution under the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) project which is funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Dr. Joseph Ochogwu explained that the initiative which is being implemented in Katsina, Kaduna, Benue and Plateau states is aimed at mitigating conflict by working with government, the civil society and local actors to address its root causes.
“As part of the implementation of the initiative, we are building the capacity of local community stakeholders inclusive of traditional leaders, community and religious leaders, youth and women groups, and several others. We will then interface them with the state security actors, we will equip them with basic conflict management skills, conflict resolution skills and conflict mediations skills.
“What this means is that we are involving citizens in the overall national peace and security architecture, we will inculcate in them the ability to notice the early signs of conflict and be able to report to their immediate community while we work with relevant agencies at the national and state levels to nip the conflict in the bud and, where applicable, resolve incidences of violence.
“Now we have commenced with the first step of implementing the project which is to build the capacity of local actors in the front line communities with basic conflict management skills, and seek the support of other stakeholders that include relevant government institutions, traditional rulers, faith-based organizations, community reconciliation committees, gender focal persons, persons with disability, media partners and the civil society”.
While noting the complex nature of the conflict in Katsina and other states where the project is been implemented, Ochogwu emphasized that resolving such conflicts requires strong coordination and timely monitoring of indicators to prevent escalation.
The IPCR team also paid a working visit to the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state where it sought the union’s cooperation and support towards the successful implementation of the conflict prevention initiative in the State.
As women groups have been identified among key stakeholders that will be engaged in the course of implementing the program, the Katsina State Secretary of the National Council of Women Societies, Hajiya Hannatu Mohammed, said the council will mobilize women groups at community level to report early signs of conflict to relevant stakeholders for prompt action.
“NCWS will ensure that women groups in the program implementation area are actively engaged in supporting the National Conflict Early Warning Early Response Initiative. We will focus on mobilizing women at community level to identify and report early signs of tension or conflict to enable relevant authorities to take proactive measures to resolve it”, she said.
Representatives of other groups urged government, non-governmental organizations and local actors to play their various roles towards actualizing the program objectives.
