By Yop Pam
The need set up security peace architecture at the local government levels to mitigate conflicts through early warning and early response has been advocated.
The Director General, Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience, OSPRE, Mr. CHRIS NGWODO made this known at a Consultative and Peer Learning Dialogue held in Jos.
The Consultative and Peer Learning Dialogue on Peace and Resilience in Communities, SPARCs, was organized by the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience, OSPRE, in collaboration with SPRiNG and the Plateau State Peace Building Agency to enable participants from conflict affected communities share their experiences, learn from one another as well as suggest more areas of partnership for a peaceful society.
The Director General, Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience, OSPRE, Mr. CHRIS NGWODO maintained that SPARCs is an evidence based Programme conceptualized to strengthen capacities of people at the grassroots on early warning and early response mechanisms to mitigate insecurity in communities.
In a remark, Team Lead, Strengthening Peace Resilience in Nigeria, SPRiNG, Dr. UKOHA UKIWO explained that Early Warning and Early Response was initiated to support different approaches at various levels to revive public confidence for peaceful and resilient communities.
In a presentation on The State of Peace and the Imperative of Resilience in Plateau State, The Director General Plateau State Peace Building Agency, DR JULIE SANDA, represented by the Director of Programmes, Mr. NANTIP JOSEPH emphasized on long-term investments in trust, justice, inclusive development, and resilient institutions for sustainable peace in the state.
The Director General, Benue Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, JOSEPHINE HABBA called on SPRiNG to enhance its community peace structures and promote conflict monitors to help reduce preventable deaths before, during and after the electioneering period.
Also, The Special Adviser on Security to the Governor, Plateau State, Retired Brigadier General Shipi Goshwe, represented by the Head of Departmental Economic Empowerment, Operation Rainbow, Binta Othman stressed the need for collaborative efforts for sustainable peace in communities.
The dialogue session featured experience sharing by stakeholders from conflict affected communities which was moderated by the Special Envoy on Peace and Security, Plateau state, Professor Chris Kwaja and the Nigeria Country Manager, Institute for Integrated Transitions, Mr. Thomas Bimba.
Some participants shared their experiences on how they manage conflicts in their communities and the way forward.
High point was a visit to the Headquarters’ of Operation Rainbow in the state facilitated by at the event.
Edited by Karen keyen
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