ActionAid Trains 500 Youths in Peace Building

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

The Director, Organisational Effectiveness, ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs Funmilayo Oyefusi, said the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has started a week-long Peace Camp for 500 youths in Kogi.

Oyefusi who disclosed this on Monday at the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, said the aim is to build their capability in peace building and prevention of violent extremism.

The 2021 Youth Peace Camp according to her was organised by ActionAid Nigeria in partnership with Participation Initiative for Behavioral change in Development (PIBCID) with funding from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, (GCERF).

Oyefus who is also the Camp Director, i said that the 2021 Annual Youth Peace Camp on Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) focused on fostering youth peace and security in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2250.

“The Youth Peace Camp themed: “Shaping Peace Through Harmonious Cohabitation” is in pursuance of the System And Structural Straightening Approach Against Radicalisation to Violent Extremism (SARVE II) project in Kogi and Nasarawa.” She said.

Oyefusi pointed out that the organisation was optimistic of building the physical, emotional and intellectual capacity of the participants to be able to stand as independent peace ambassadors in their communities.

“We believe that if you are empowered economically and socially, you will not be available to be recruited to engage in conflicts and involve in violent extremism”, she said.

Declaring the Peace Camp open, Idris Musa, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, lauded ActionAid for its efforts at promoting peace in the state through its various intervention programmes.

According to him, there is need to promote good morals among the youth for the sustenance of peace, saying that when there is absence of peace, there will be crisis.

Hajia Fatima Buba, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, enjoined the youths to steer clear of drugs, alcohol and violence adding “Youths as the most dominant in any society must play an active role in peace building. Through our collective efforts as peace builders, we can put an end to this menace,” she said.

Also speaking, Ms Halima Sadiq, Executive Director, PIBCID said the 2021 edition was the third of the Peace Camp held in the state, camping 500 youths drawn from 12 communities in six Local government areas.