NGO trains Zamfara communities on conflict resolution, gender-based violation

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

A nongovernmental organization International Alert Nigeria (IAN) has conducted a 2-day training meeting for building capacity for community dialogue on conflict prevention and management, gender sensitivity and analysis.
This was disclosed by the Senior Project Officer (SPO) of the International Alert Zamfara State, Mr. Stevin John, adding that the 29 participants would at the end of the meeting be trained as dialogue facilitators in their respective communities.
The IA is working in Kaduna and Zamfara States to establish peace building platforms that will work in their communities towards ensuring conflict and grievance management by organizing dialogue for resolving dispute even without escalating to formal courts.
Also speaking, the Zamfara State Coordinator of BAOBAB and Facilitator of the programme, Hajiya Rabi Ibrahim, stated that the essence of the meeting was organized with a view to train communities in the state on effective communication skill in peace building.
Rabi further informed that, during the meeting, the NGO would share knowledge to the targeted communities on grievance management and nonviolence between the leaders and members of the affected communities especially during moves to mediate between the contending tribes and or religious followers.
The meeting further discussed on causes of conflict and professional ways of resolutions which included high rate of unemployment, abject poverty and displacement of communities by either communal clashes, as well as needs for governments interventions for peace restoration.