Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI), Zamfara-based NGO, in partnership with NEEM Foundation, has organized a three-day ‘Training of Trainers’ on peace building and Reflective Structured Dialogue (RSD).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day training being funded by the KARUNA Center for Peace Building U.S.A.
The participants of the training included community dialogue facilitators and representatives of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), AFAN and the VAI project team.
Speaking at the training on Wednesday in Gusau, the Attorney- General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Abdul’aziz Sani, SAN, described it as a welcome development.
The commissioner described peace building as a long-term process of encouraging people to talk, repairing relationships and reforming institutions to achieve sustainable positive change.
Sani reiterated the state government’s commitment in promoting peace building activities in the state.
He assured government’ support to NGOs and partners towards achieving their desired goals for the development of the state.
The Commissioner for Economic and Planning, Abdulmalik Gajam, said the training was in line with Gov. Dauda Lawal administration’s policy to achieve peace in the state.
Gajam called on all the stakeholders to continue to support the state government’s programmes towards achieving peace building, stability and conflict prevention.
He said that no society can develop without peace.
The lead facilitator of the training, Mr
Seth Karamage, said it was aimed at preparing the participants on how to engage in constructive dialogue towards conflict prevention.
“This training is about building competency and how to apply the Reflective Structured Dialogue (RSD) in our various communities.
“We want to ensure our participants are confident and competent to train others on how to facilitate the RSD,” Karamage explained.
Earlier speaking, the Executive Director (VAI) Mr Musa Umar, commended KARUNA Centre for Peace Building U.S.A and NEEM Foundation for funding the ongoing ‘Protecting Our Community Initiative (POCI)’ project implementation in Zamfara.
Umar said that everyone affected by a destructive conflict has to be involved in the process of building peace.
“The VAI as implementing partner of achieving POCI in the state will continue to ensure engagement of relevant key stakeholders aimed at ensuring sustainable peace in the state,” he added. (NAN)