By Amos Tauna
Determined to ensure lasting peace in Southern Kaduna, one-day youth forum was held in Kafanchan, Jema’a local government area of Kaduna State, northern Nigeria.
it was organised by two NGOs, Search for Common Ground Nigeria, and Justice Development and Peace Caritas, (JDPC), with support of United State Agency for International Development, USAID.
The participants, farmers and Fulani youths were drawn from Kachia and Zangon Kataf local government areas to network and work together towards building and sustaining peace and tolerance between and among them.
Speaking, Senior Program Manager Search for Common Ground Nigeria, Sani Suleiman, said the forum was informed so as to carry the youth along in peace building processes, adding that it was also to hear what the youth felt were the issues, the gaps and the opportunities to be explored in order to achieve sustainable peace in their communities in line with the UN youth resolution of December 2015.
He noted that the role of the youth in the society could not be overlook and urged them to be more responsive to their responsibilities and shun vices that may cause disunity amongst them, hoping that they will work together as youths to identify and address the causes of violence and mistrust in their localities.
The programs Manager hoped that at the end of the forum, participants’ knowledge on coexistence must have been increased and intercultural understanding of pastoralist and farming community enhanced.
In a remark, the Associate State Coordinator Kaduna, Search for Common Ground Nigeria, Chorbe Joshua, pointed out that the two local governments of Kachia and Zango Kataf in Kaduna state were the initial implementing local governments, adding that more local government areas would soon be covered.
He expressed optimism that the forum would exposed participants on how best to identify their problems, gaps and missing links in farmers and pastoralist youth engagement and involvement in peace building and conflict transformation.
Joshua noted that they would be taught how to collaborate and work together in addressing their issues and gaps for improve peaceful and harmonious society in a non-adversarial manner.
While expressing satisfaction with the quality of knowledge impacted on them, participants at the end of the forum resolved to put into practice all they have learnt as well as transmit the knowledge to more people in their various communities through implementation of follow up action plan.
Highpoint of the forum was a group discussion and presentation by the participants.
