ActionAid Nigeria has trained 500 youths in the area of skills acquisition, attitudes in human rights education, prevention of violent extremism and foster intercultural and religious learning and dialogue.
The Director, Organisational Effectiveness, ActionAid Nigeria, Camp Director for 2020 Youth Peace Camp, Fumilayo Oyefusi, who gave this insight during the opening of the year 2020, youth camp in Lokoja, Kogi State on Monday noted that, from the last year youth peace camp in the state, the organisation has recorded so much progress in the communities in terms of peacebuilding and prevention of violent extremism.
She stressed, that most of the campers in last year exercise have become peace ambassadors in their various communities, saying that most of them who are trained on some skills are already using the skills to earn a living.
“We believe that if our youth are economically empowered, it would be difficult for them to engage in violent activities, it would also be difficult for anyone to use them or engage them as thugs in their various communities.
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The youth peace camp is being sponsored by Actionaid Nigerithe in partnership with Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development, (PIBCID), with funding from, Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, (GCERF).
Speaking also, the project officer for System Structure Strengthening Approach against radicalisation to violent Extremism (SARVE11), project, Anicentus Atakpu, said other objectives of the youth camp “is to stimulate participants understanding of their personal and collective identities and their roles in preventing conflict.
“To enable participants to share personal experiences of conflict and violence and coping strategies in a positive and safe atmosphere of living and learning together.
“To motivate and support participants in their role as multipliers and peer leaders in peacebuilding activities with young people.
“To strengthen the role of ActionAid Nigeria, through Its SARVE11 project, in Its efforts towards strengthening youth work in preventing violent Extremism, social cohesion and intercultural and religious dialogue in the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2250 on youth, peace and security.
The Executive Director, of Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change, (PIBCID), Halima Oiza Sadiq in her remarks said, 500 youth from six local government areas, cutting across the three Senatorial districts of Kogi State, are taking part in the 2020 youth camp, which is expected to last for one week.
She called on the youth taking part in the 2020 youth camp to be committed and pay attention to all the training and skill acquisition aspects of the camping to enable them to become self-reliant after the one week exercise.
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