The Rotary Action Group for Peace (RAGFP), Kaduna State Branch, has announced a strategic partnership with the Presidency through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to implement the National Community Violence Reduction Programme (NCVRP) — a nationwide peacebuilding initiative aimed at curbing insecurity and promoting sustainable peace.
Speaking during the maiden press briefing held in Kaduna, the Kaduna State Coordinator of RAGFP, Rotarian Luqman Babatunde said the collaboration marks a major milestone in Rotary’s commitment to positive peace and national stability.
“The Rotary Action Group for Peace is the civil society arm of Rotary International dedicated to promoting behaviours, structures, and institutions that uphold peacebuilding, peacemaking, and peacekeeping,” the coordinator stated.
He added that the new partnership with ONSA under the NCVRP framework will strengthen community resilience and foster dialogue among citizens across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
“Through the NCVRP, we are adopting people-centered strategies that address the root causes of violence — from terrorism and banditry to youth restiveness and social exclusion,” he said.
According to him, the initiative is backed by the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Gray-Child Foundation, and RAGFP Nigeria, integrating a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
The coordinator also highlighted the worsening insecurity in the country, noting that recent reports indicate over 4,800 conflict-related deaths in 2024 and 3.5 million internally displaced persons as of March 2025.
“These figures are not just statistics; they represent human lives disrupted by violence. Our mission is to build peace from the community upward, ensuring that every Nigerian can live in dignity and safety,” he emphasized.
RAGFP Kaduna has implemented several local peace initiatives since its commissioning in 2024, including anti-drug campaigns, donations to special schools, and community sensitization programs.
“We believe peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of structures that prevent it. Rotary stands ready to partner with government and civil society to make that a reality,” he concluded.
COV: Khadija Kubau
