By Atiku Galadima, Maiduguri
The Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development has engaged 200 community stakeholders in four communities in Borno State to strengthen efforts to prevent violent extremism, support reintegration and build community resilience.
The stakeholders participated in dialogues and community sensitisation sessions in Moromti, Bolori, Old Maiduguri and Maisandari communities in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Local Government Areas.
The sessions were conducted under the Strengthening Pathways to Reintegration and Community Resilience Against Violent Extremism in Borno State project, funded by the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) and implemented by the Foundation.
The participants included traditional leaders, teachers, youth and women leaders, caregivers, women-headed households and religious leaders.
The dialogues focused on increasing community awareness and understanding of the Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) approach.
They also sought to promote peaceful coexistence, social cohesion and community resilience.
Other areas covered included positive caregiving and parenting practices, early warning signs, appropriate community response pathways, stigma reduction and the successful reintegration of returnees.
The sessions also provided a platform for stakeholders to identify local challenges and risks and develop practical, locally owned mechanisms for addressing them.
Members of the Community Advocates on Transitional Justice (CATJ) and Community Women Mediators Forum (COMWOMF), community structures established by Allamin Foundation, also participated in the sessions.
They emphasised the prevention and countering of violent extremism among youths, stigma reduction and the reintegration of returnees, especially minors.
They also highlighted positive caregiving and parenting, as well as early warning and community response.
According to the Foundation, the sessions increased participants’ awareness and understanding of P/CVE and improved their understanding of early identification and appropriate responses to community risks.
It said awareness of the role of parents and caregivers in building resilience among children and young people also increased.
The Foundation said the dialogues further strengthened understanding of community responsibility in preventing violence and promoting peace.
In their separate remarks, the four district heads expressed commitment to establishing sub-committees focusing on reintegration, peacebuilding, education and security.
They also pledged to strengthen community ownership of P/CVE and peacebuilding initiatives.
The district heads commended the Foundation for taking the dialogue sessions to their communities and promised to sustain them in their respective domains.
The sessions also strengthened the potential for continued collaboration between the four districts, CATJ, COMWOMF and the Allamin Foundation.