By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The Gideon & Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, a non-governmental organisation on Wednesday commenced a six-month peace awareness and sensitisation l campaign to mitigate crisis in Taraba State.
Revd Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam, President, and CEO of the foundation, disclosed during the programme in Wukari town, Wukari local area of Taraba that the idea was targeted toward sensitising stakeholders on early warning and early response to crisis motivated issues.
Periscope Nigeria reports that, the program tagged “Project Zaman Lafiya Taraba” is to train stakeholders in Wukari, Takum and Ussa local governments, to help build peace relationship among ethnic and religious groups in the state.
According to Para-Mallam the organisation was moved to advocate for peace in Taraba due to persistent ethnic and farmers headers crisis especially in the southern part of the state.
The CEO noted that a Conflict Management Support Group in three LGAs, to scale up advocacy was to be constituted in Wukari, Takum and Ussa local governments.
He appealed for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address the deep-seated ethnic and religious divisions that continue to challenge peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
“Taraba like other states of Nigeria, has endured its fair share of divisions, driven by religion, inter-ethnic tensions and chieftaincy disputes.
“In order to scale up advocacy and peace building efforts, the Foundation has established a Conflict Management Support Groups in Wukari, Takum, and Ussa LGAs.
“The groups are designed to empower local communities to take ownership of the peace process and address conflicts at their roots.
“Our mission is to spread the message of peace, and ensure that stakeholders in these LGAs lead the charge in fostering interfaith and inter-ethnic harmony.
“This model will eventually be expanded to other LGAs to ensure representation in every senatorial zone across the state,” the CEO noted.
Our correspondent also reports that the community engagement brought participation from Christian and Muslim leaders, women groups, youth organisations, political representatives and the disable persons, who both commended the initiative as progressive effort for peace and development.
“This is a timely intervention. We pledge to work collectively to ensure that peace prevail in our communities,” the stakeholders assured.
