Yobe monarchs, others benefit

Managing Conflicts in Northeast Nigeria (MCN), a European Union-funded programme being implemented by the British Council, has pledged its support to traditional institutions by strengthening their capacity in dispute resolution, mediation and basic human rights in yobe state. The support, according to the organization, is to enhance state and community level-conflict management capability, to prevent the escalation of conflict in conflict flash-points in the region.
This was disclosed by British Council State Team Leader, Sambo A. Abdulkadir, while delivering remarks at the opening of the one day workshop entitled “Lesson Learning and Dissemination,” held at GAAT Hotel in Damaturu yesterday. Sambo further said, “The objective of the activity is to bring participants from the emirates as well as key stakeholders around justice and security so as to share lessons and experience.
“Over 70 per cent of disputes in our society are handled by nonformal sector. Considering the importance the capacity was built, we have strengthened interface with formal sector like Police and Judiciary, so that simple issues they can handle are not left to escalate into violence.”
Our correspondent gathered that 160 traditional rulers, including district and ward heads were trained on reconciliation and mediation in each of the emirates. Also another 160 scribes belonging to the traditional rulers were trained in record keeping system to support the traditional rulers in keeping records among others.
In her remarks, Mrs. Hadiza Bukar, who is a consultant with the co-sponsor, Green Horizon, said the participants were expected to share lessons and challenges in their practical day to day engagements and collectively identify ways to manage dispute resolution, reconciliation and mediation.