Insurgency: NGO sensitises youths on peace in Yobe

Damaturu

As peace gradually returns to Yobe, one of the states worst-hit by the Boko-Haram insurgency, a non-governmental organisation, African Youth for Peace Development and Empowerment Foundation (AFRYDEV), with support from North-east Regional Initiative (NERI) has sensitised youths in Geidam local government area in the state on the need to participate in peace-building, leadership development and citizenship in their communities.
The NERI’s Chief Party, Shareef Khatib, said the four-day intensive peace-building training programme which commenced with inauguration and induction of 100 youths for peace clubs across five communities in Geidam local government had become paramount due to the recent insurgency situation faced in the North-east.
“The current insurgency in the North-east, security, economic, social and political challenges faced in Nigeria and other countries in the world today calls more than ever a stronger promotion and recognition of the benefits and impact of effective social engagement of youths, such as encouraging civic engagement, youth participation, active solidarity, tolerance and acceptance of diversity, intercultural awareness and active citizenship,” he said.
He encouraged the participants to keep trying and make good use of knowledge gained from the training in order to sanitise others and promote peace in their various communities via the peace development clubs introduced.
The Executive Director, African Youth for peace Development and Empowerment Foundation, Mr. Aminu Bukar, said “the creation of the peace clubs is to adopt an integrated approach to inculcate the spirit of nationalism, responsible citizenship and tolerance to enhance cohesion among youths in nation building and resilience to terrorism.”
Performing the inauguration and induction of the peace club members, the Chairman Geidam local government area, Mulima Mato, appreciated the organisations for extending the gesture to his community.
He advised the participants to take advantage of the sensitization training to further develop their communities.
Participants at the training, Rukkaya Sani and Bashir Mamud, said they had gained a lot from the training and will further use the knowledge acquired to train youths in their communities.

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