The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in collaboration with United Nations Development Project and Osun State Government has completed training of over 200 persons on prevention of conflicts at the early stages.
Stakeholders at the programme called for inclusiveness and data volunteering to aid the security, adding that security is everyone’s business.
The event, which took place in Iloko Ijesha, Osun State, has its participants drawn from security agencies, community leaders, traditional institutions, civil society groups, media and community based organizations.
Participants were trained on detection, analysing and working on early warning and early response to prevent conflicts in their respective domains.
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Speaking at the programme, Governor Gboyega Oyetola commended the NSCDC and the UNDP for the initiative, stating that such training will go a long way in helping to prevent conflicts in the grassroots and also foster peaceful coexistence among individuals and other units in every parts of the state and country large.
Oyetola, who was represented by Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Professor Olalekan Yinusa, expressed the readiness of his administration to welcome development partners to the state. He said the programme will also improve on regular advocacy for peace and strengthen the capacity of media organizations for conflict-sensitive reportage.
He said, “I am pleased to inform this gathering that situation of democratic governance and service delivery has continued to improve since we took over the mantle of leadership of State of Osun on 27th November, 2018. Consistently, the State has devoted significant resources to address various conflicts.
The governor added that the State put in place structures and mechanisms for prevention and management of conflicts in the State.
“For example, existing frameworks created for conflict prevention and peace-making in the state include Osun Citizens Mediation Centre and Department of Public Defender and Citizen Rights coordinated and managed by the Ministry of Justice. Their strategies include using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) strategies to prevent or reduce conflict of different forms in the state.
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“Also, the State has a functional Inter-Ministerial Committee on Peaceful Co-existence between Fulani/Bororo and Crop Farmers domiciled in the Ministry of Special Duties. This committee also works diligently to resolve Fulani/Bororo and Crop Farmers conflicts. Over 6,000 crises of different forms have been resolved amicably in different communities across the length and breadth of the State through this platform.”
In his address, the Commandant General of NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana Mohammodu commended the development partners for their roles in ensuring that the programme is done.
Host Commandant, Abdulkadir Sulu was represented by the Head of Admin and Personnel of the command, Ibrahim Atanda.
He also stated that Osun State is one of the most peaceful state, despite all the challenges it had faced in the past, as people have moved on from those conflicts.
In his closing remarks, the Programme Coordinator, Commandant David Ojelabi tasked participants to step down the knowledge acquired in their respective domains by training more people and getting more involved in the security of their areas.
Ojelabi appreciated the UNDP for the support and also the Osun State Government under Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
Some of the participants who spoke with InsightMedia expressed their delight over the training, stating that it has equiped them with relevant skills to detect and act on early warning signs that may lead to conflicts.
One of the participants said, “We were taken through general causes of conflicts such as poorly defined goals, lack of cooperation and trust, social exclusions, competition for scace resources, unclear roles and divergent personal values.
“By being a watchdog, be sensitive of my environment, be a change agent by educating people within my sphere of influence on the need importance of working together and win togetherthrough effective collaboration and importance of strategic communication, have respect for other people’s feelings and ideas and act promptly to as soon as early warning signs are seen before situation escalates to hunting and stalemate. Everyone must be involved and encouraged to take actions.”
