The Kaduna State government said it will strengthen collaborations with ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) and the Office of the National Security Adviser to counter violent extremism in the state.
Governor Uba Sani made the pledge while receiving a high-level delegation from ActionAid Nigeria and the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser on Global Community Engagement and Resilient Fund Interventions in the state.
Represented by his deputy, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, the governor appreciated the efforts of the Global Community Engagement and Resilient Fund, Partnership Against Violent Extremism Network, ActionAid Nigeria, and the SARVE III project consortium in addressing the underlying causes of violent extremism in Kaduna State.
He said, “It is encouraging to hear about the grant approval from GCERF to support the establishment of a Prevention and Countering of Violent Extremism Knowledge, Innovation and Resources Hub through the PAVE Network. Violent extremism has cost our dear state much in terms of human lives, physical pains and trauma, economic loss of fortunes, holding back development, and sowing the seed of distrust and disharmony between and among some of our communities.
“KDSG welcomes these interventions wholeheartedly because they will doubtlessly support the effort of the state government in stemming the tide of violence and restoring peace and harmony. We realized that peace and security are the bedrock for sustainable development and that both security and development have a nexus.”
He noted that his administration has set in motion holistic approaches; supporting the security agencies to address security threats, working with traditional institutions in intelligence gathering and deepening engagement with community leaders and a wide range of opinion leaders.
He noted that the efforts have yielded results and led to sustainable peace and harmony in the State. He added that Kaduna is committed to working with all stakeholders to develop and implement Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism State Action Plans and Local Action Plans and mainstreaming PCVE into the state and local governance policies.
In her opening remarks, director, Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, National Counter Terrorism Center, Ambassador Mario Abbas explained that the purpose of the visit was to seek for the state government’s support and collaboration on the interventions already being implemented by AAN and also to scale up these initiatives as government support is crucial for sustainability.
She highlighted the need to strengthen collaboration between NCTC-ONSA and Kaduna State government towards preventing and countering violent extremism by developing programmes to engage youth and out of school children and enhance the deployment of community-based approach towards PCVE in the state.
In her keynote address, the deputy country director of AAN, Suwaiba Dankobo, said the recent protest in the North, which Kaduna was part of, glaringly highlighted the fragility of the social fabric which calls for actions to meet people’s demands, especially the younger generation.
She noted that over the past 25 months AAN has built community resilience against violent extremism across six local government including Chikun, Igabi, Kachia, Jema’a, Kudan, Zaria and 12 communities of Damishi, Kujama, Turunku, Nariya, Kachia, Gumel, Takau, Ungwan Masara, Likoro, Hunkuyi, Wusasa, Gwargwaje in the state.
“We handed livelihood equipment worth N52 million to 300 youth and women in Kaduna. The beneficiaries were trained on cattle rearing, poultry, tailoring and piggery,” she said.
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