Advocacy against hate speech is yielding result– Dambazau

 

Minister of Interior, Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), has noted that the massive advocacy against the danger of hate speech is yielding its desired result.

Dambazau also disclosed that the best way to ensure peaceful co-existence is to manage conflicts, stressing that peace is an important tool in the society.

The Minister disclosed this yesterday at a close-out Conference tagged; training of religious leaders for national co-existence in Abuja.

The conference was organised by the United State Agency for International Development (USAID).

He particularly praised Kano and Sokoto states under the USAID project for identifying weapons pilings and drug abuse as the major drivers of conflicts in the society and urged the centre to focus more attention on those areas.

“From what has been presented and testimonies given by the people involved in the Centre Community Peace Observers and Conflict Management and Mitigation Regional Council advocacy, the campaign against ‘Hate Speech’ is working in Nigeria and I am sure that the USAID has put its money where it was supposed to’’, he said.

In his address, the Mission Director, USAID, Mr. Stephen Haykin, explained that the successful completion of USAID-supported activity had enhanced communal peace, reconciliation and stability among communities in seven of its most volatile states in Nigeria.

He said: ‘Over the last five years, USAID’s tolerance activity has brought together religious and civic leaders with government officials to defend religious freedom through inclusive dialogue. It has also helped build the capacity of youths, women and men who now play active role as peacemakers within their communities.

‘Aside mitigating conflict through media dialogue, the project has strengthened understanding and relationships across faiths and communities in these seven states.

 

 

 

 

Leave a Reply