Alhaji Barkindo Mustafa, The Lamido of Adamawa, has commended British Council for encouraging dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts among communities in the state.
Mustafa made the commendation Thursday in Yola while receiving donation of office furniture and other equipment from the Council for the newly opened Conflict Record Keeping Centre, known as “Sulhu Centre” in the emirate.
Represented by the District Head of Yola, Alhaji Mohammad Ahmad, the Lamido said the support from British Council, particularly in enhancing the capacity of wards, village and district heads in disputes resolution, had reduced the number of court cases in the emirate.
Mustafa also noted that equipping of the Centre with computers and other facilities would enhance central record keeping for easy access and assessment for solutions.
While stressing the need for increased participation of traditional institutions in promoting peace and resolving conflicts, Mustafa re-iterated the commitment of the emirate to partner with the Council and other like minds in promoting dialogue.
Speaking at the occasion, Prof. Mohammed Tabiu (SAN), the National Programme Manager of Managing Conflict in North East Nigeria (MCN), said the office equipment for the operations of the Record Keeping Centre was funded by European Union (EU), through the British Council’s MCN programme.
Tabiu said the record keeping Centre was expected to establish a data-base on activities of the emirate in areas of mediation and conflict management.
Tabiu said information gathered by the Centre would guide the emirate and other relevant bodies in tackling disputes and providing information on trend of disputes, as well as identifying disputes that were prevalent, in order to contain them from transforming into major conflicts.
He said similar Centre would be opened for Mubi Emirate, Ganye Emirate and Numan Chiefdom, to enhance the activities of the tradition institution in managing conflicts in the state.
