By Atiku Galadima, Maiduguri
SUNNAH TV, in partnership with the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), has reaffirmed its commitment to training stakeholders to promote peace, social cohesion and responsible civic engagement across Borno State.
Speaking in Maiduguri on Tuesday at the flag-off of a three-day train-the-trainer workshop, the Managing Director of SUNNAH TV, Mohammed Tukur Ibrahim, said the programme is aimed at tackling challenges in rehabilitating and integrating repentant Boko Haram members while promoting transitional justice from an Islamic perspective.
He added that the training would also encourage responsible use of social media, peaceful coexistence and conflict-resolution strategies tailored to Borno’s diverse communities.
“The insurgency left families displaced, relationships fractured and many young people burdened by trauma,” Ibrahim said, noting that the workshop represents renewed hope for healing and transformation.
He described the initiative as “a commitment to rebuilding lives, strengthening communities and sustaining peace in a region long tested by conflict.” He also commended the NEDC and the Borno State Government for providing an enabling environment for peacebuilding and social cohesion.
“The resolve for peace, healing and reintegration remains unshaken,” he said, stressing the importance of trained facilitators and peace champions in sustaining long-term recovery.
Ibrahim noted that the workshop’s themes reflect the practical realities of communities navigating reconciliation after years of disruption. He reaffirmed SUNNAH TV’s commitment to promoting dialogue, unity and responsible civic behaviour.
He expressed hope that the training would strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and contribute to lasting peace across Borno and the wider North-East.
Also speaking, one of the facilitators, Prof. Umar Alkali of the University of Maiduguri, said that security challenges in Borno are not unique and that lessons can be drawn from countries like Rwanda, where structured reconciliation helped communities recover from insurgency.
He stressed that a similar approach, tailored to the state’s realities, could promote lasting peace, especially with the active involvement of traditional and religious leaders in community engagement.
Prof. Alkali noted that some people remain skeptical about accepting repentant individuals, but proper sensitisation and community education can build trust and support for reintegration.
He highlighted challenges, including the limited financial capacity of traditional leaders, and recommended that these institutions be adequately supported, including through stipends, to carry out their roles effectively.
Alkali added that many repentant individuals are victims of circumstance and can be successfully reintegrated if well guided and supported.