International Alert trains Bauchi, Yobe youths on conflict management, peace building, stresses need for amicable conflict resolution

Participants at the training

By Akanji Alowolodu, Gombe

The need for people and their societies to sit together, understanding each other and resolve conflicts without violence, working together to build sustainable and inclusive peace has been stressed by a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) called ‘International Alert’. 

As part of the efforts to build the sustainable peace in the North-East subregion, the NGO organized a three day training for selected youths from Bauchi and Yobe states on conflicts management, peace building and civic responsibilities.

The workshop which was declared opened on Wednesday at the Custodian Hotels in Gombe was meant to train the youth as ‘Peace Mentors’ in the two states.
While speaking during the opening ceremony of the training, the Senior Project Officer of International Alert, Bauchi, Sunday Momoh Jimoh explained that the participants were selected from different local governments of the two states.
According to him, the programme was organized in partnership with Bauchi and Yobe state governments adding that the trainees would be supported by the organization to step down the training to at least 600 other youths who will pass the message too to their peers so that peace could be achieved in the two societies.
Sunday Jimoh who stated that International Alert is one of the leading world’s peace building organizations with over 30 years experience said they have worked in 25 countries. 
While lamenting that in most cases of violence, youth are involved but are excluded in decision making on peace, he opined that such decisions do not work effectively as a result of not capturing the yearnings and inputs of the youth. 
He also said that, “The objective of the workshop is to increase the leadership role of young people in addressing local drivers of conflicts and fragility in Bauchi and Yobe states” . 
“Increase youth participation in conflict prevention, mitigation and management. Increase youth access in decision making on local development and economic empowerment initiative”. He said.
In his remarks, the representative from ministry of youth Yobe state Mohammed Aliyu lauded the organizers of the training saying it was timely.