By Daniel Karlmax
Beneficiaries of a German-supported peacebuilding project, facilitated by the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), have called for its extension and sustainability to enable future generations of women and youths benefit from essential training, resources and structured support for inclusive growth and development.
The nine-month initiative, implemented under the Strengthening Women Interfaith Leadership for Human Rights, Transitional Justice and Democratic Stability Project, was aimed at promoting peace, unity and mutual understanding among people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds.
They made the appeal during a learning visit and engagement between the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Stefan Roessel and project beneficiaries at the Sa-Gbagyi Palace, Ungwar Baro, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Alice Simi Kim, a Peace Ambassador from Kafanchan, said the initiative had empowered her to stand up for women, represent their interests and promote sustainability by equipping young people with self-reliant skills and the necessary institutional support.
Reflecting on her family’s history, Simi Kim disclosed that her father had benefited from a German Government training programme more than 30 years ago, a development she said strengthened her belief in the importance of sustaining international opportunities that equip young people with valuable skills to contribute to national development.
Similarly, Dr. Fatima Abubakar from Zaria and Shedrack David Hassan from Kaduna Central highlighted the project’s far-reaching impact, saying that it had equipped more than 5,000 women with essential knowledge on religious freedom, gender-based violence, referral pathways for abuse cases and peaceful interfaith coexistence.
They said the training had strengthened participants’ capacities, raised awareness and provided practical skills to help women and youths navigate societal challenges, adding that the programme also covered human rights, conflict resolution and online dispute resolution while promoting resilience and religious tolerance.
Government representatives, including the Director, Kaduna State Ministry of Youth Development, Lami Usman, alongside Abu Nehemiah Bamai, Barrister Sarah Peter from Internal Security and Home Affairs, and Justice ministries expressed appreciation to the German Embassy for its contributions to promoting peace, safety, security and access to justice in Kaduna State.
They acknowledged the impact of the intervention over the past nine months, particularly in strengthening community relationships, promoting peaceful coexistence and encouraging an inclusive approach to addressing insecurity.
They further noted that the intervention had strengthened the capacity of traditional and religious leaders through training in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), human rights protection and the prevention of gender-based violence.
While acknowledging the progress recorded, they identified youth unemployment and inadequate resources as major challenges, appealing for support in providing starter packs for young people who had acquired vocational skills to enable them to establish businesses and become self-reliant.
The Co-Director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre, Kaduna, Mr. Samson Auta, said the project was primarily designed to amplify women’s voices and strengthen their participation in peacebuilding and community development.
He noted that empowering women would have a positive impact on society, explaining that women who are equipped with the right knowledge and opportunities would, in turn empower their children and contribute to building a better society.
Responding after an interactive session, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Stefan Roessel said he was convinced that the project had made a positive impact, assuring participants that he would communicate his observations and experience to the German Embassy in Abuja and the German Government in Berlin, with the hope of exploring further support.
Roessel reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting peace and security initiatives in Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast and the Lake Chad Basin, through programmes implemented by GIZ and partnerships with organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
He noted that insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin and other northern parts of Nigeria was not merely a national concern but a regional and global challenge, stressing that Germany would continue to support efforts to address the situation.
In a closing remarks, His Royal Highness, Chief Tobias Nkom Wada (Agwam Takad I) highlighted the programme’s contribution to extending legal awareness, human rights education and grassroots engagement to communities across Southern Kaduna.
He said the collaborative efforts led by the Interfaith Mediation Centre had helped bridge the gap in access to legal knowledge by educating women and other community members, empowering them to speak out and understand their constitutional rights.
The programme climaxed with the conferment of a traditional title of Peace Ambassador on the German Ambassador, Stefan Roessel by the Etse Chikun, the Sa-Gbagyi, Mr. Ishaku Yari in recognition of Germany’s contributions to peacebuilding and community development.
Editing By Godwin Duru
