To further strengthen peace and priority conflict management mechanism at all levels in Nigeria, there was the need to equip Nigerians with necessary skills and tools.
This formed the focus of a three-day peace building, conflict and violent extremism prevention capacity building for stakeholders in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
The training, under the Research and Action For Peace, REcAP, Network Project, funded by the European Union, and implemented by the West Africa Network for Peace building (WANEP) was also aimed at driving research for data and strengthening capacities of communities across Nigeria on security and peace building.
Speaking with newsmen, the national coordinator for West Africa Network for Peace Building, Nigeria, Mrs. Bridget Osakwe said participants have been trained on strategies to recognize and prevent remote causes of conflict and violent extremism.
Mrs Osakwe said the capacity building had been carried out in Kwara state for North Central zone, Uyo for South South zone while Taraba will host the next training, to cut across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
She explained that the participants have also been equipped with what to do to avert possible breach of peace in their environment.
She said “We are training them on strategies and tools, first of all, to recognize and prevent issues of crisis, so they’ve been equipped with what to do within the community.
“For instance, at times, you might see tension that something is going to happen, and you walk away, but for these people that have been trained now, they will not just walk away, they will know who to call.
“If you call a wrong person, you might think you have not done well, but then the call alone can douse the tension and the appropriate person will take it up from there.
“If it is a community setting, you can go to the village head, explain things to him while he calls the parties involved for dialogue and those kind of issues can be solved amicably”
Mrs Osakwe appealed to Nigerians to see the country as a project that must succeed, saying peace and security of lives and property is the duty of both the government and the governed.
Earlier in an address, the European Union Program officer in charge of peace and security, Mr. Serges Ymadjeu highlighted the need for Nigerians to prioritize peace.
Mr. Ymadjeu said no development can take place in an atmosphere where there is conflict, disunity and unrest.
He expressed satisfaction with the focus of the training, urging young Nigerians to become peace ambassadors in their communities.
He said “The participants are expected to go to their communities and implement the strategies and knowledge gained during the training, I am confident that the training would be fruitful if properly implemented.
Newsarena.ng reports that the training brought together Civil Society Actors, Community Stakeholders, women, men and youth group leaders to equip them with skills that deepen understanding and identify potential sources of conflict towards the prevention of conflict and violent extremism within communities in Nigeria.
