40 Youth from Bauchi, Yobe receive training on conflict management.
By Abubakar Baba Ahmad.
About forty participants from Bauchi and Yobe states have converged on Gombe for a three-day Youth Peace Mentorship workshop.
The workshop which focuses on Conflict Management, Peace building and Civic responsibilities is organised by International Alert in collaboration with European Union as well as Bauchi and Yobe state governments.
In an Opening remark, the Senior Project Officer International Alert Bauchi Sunday Jimoh said the training is aimed at equipping the participants with knowledge on local development and empowerment initiatives among others.
Sunday Jimoh said the Youth Peace Mentorship program which is a community based structure would build the capacity of the youth in decision making and to engage with traditional leaders, local authorities and security agencies towards integrating youth into their councils.
“It is a community based structure which aims to engage with traditional leaders, local authorities and security agencies through advocacy and sensitisation towards integrating youth into their platforms, build skills and confidence to engage in decision making and to mentor their peers, he said”.
While calling on the participants to engage more youth in their localities towards expanding the network, the Senior Project Officer emphasised the need for youth involvement in all aspects of Peace building, conflict resolution and decision making initiatives.
According to Sunday Jimoh about six hundred youth are being targeted at the end of the project.
Speaking on the topic Conflict, Violence and Peace, a Consultant Dr Hassan Misari underscored the need for the trainees to adopt strategies towards de-escalating conflicts and ensure inclusivity among people.
Earlier, the representative of Yobe State Ministry of Youth and Sports Muhammad Aliyu said the project is timely considering the challenges facing the society, and called on the participants to pay attention during the training towards stepping down the knowledge gained.
The participants drawn from Damaturu and Gujba local government areas in Yobe state, Gamawa and Bauchi local governments in Bauchi state are expected to mobilise and train youth in their respective communities on the programme.
