People of Gwer East LGA of Benue State have been charged to embrace peace at all levels with a view to save their communities from destruction. This charge was given by Mr Nathaniel Awuapila, facilitator at a 2-Day capacity building workshop on the theme “TEACHING DIVIDED COMMUNITIES”.
The workshop was organized by the Youth Adolescent Reflection and Action Centre (YARAC), in conjunction with D&P Canada with its’ focus on peace building as a response to contain the incessant conflicts between communities in the area. Participants at the workshop were selected stakeholders across the three district areas of Gwer-East LGA including, youth leaders from Njiriv, Yonov and Ngyohol.
On Day One, participants were engaged on conflict management skills as they gave practical narratives of conflicts in their respective communities. Training for youth groups on “Non-violent Communication” took centre stage with issues discussed in relation to dousing the conflicts in the various parts of Gwer East local government. The facilitator, Mr Nathaniel Awuapila led the youth groups to identify flash points, problems, root and solutions to the conflicts in their various districts. They were made to understand that they have significant roles in the peace building process of their respective communities.
On day Two, Mr. Iorshenge Michael Mvendaga, Program Officer for YARAC on Leadership and Good Governance took the participants on Non-Violent Communication. He noted that the training on non-violent communication for the youth is primarily aimed at learning to communicate with compassion towards self and others. Saying that it drives towards relating with oneself and others through empathy leading to trust, nurture and averting potential violence. Mr Mvendaga said that YARAC is committed to engaging young people as well as other stakeholders in the peace process with a view to imbibe in them practical ways of dousing tensions and conflicts within their communities. He said that the workshop has afforded the opportunity for stakeholders in the distinct warring communities of Gwer East to sit together, analyze underlying issues that have given them logger heads, with solutions proffered and a pledge to sheath their swords and give peace a chance.
According to him, “People often say, this world is ruthless and if one must survive, he or she must be ruthless too”. Mr Mvendaga disabused the minds of the youths on taking up arms against each other, saying that; “If we change ourselves, we can change the world and changing ourselves begins with changing our language and methods of communication”.
Flash points identified by the youth groups include; 6 from Njiriv, 6 from Yonov and 4 from Ngyohov with problems faced by these communities bothering on Disagreement over land ownership with the Root Causes of the conflicts well pointed out.
The youth associations resolved unanimously to be the vanguard for peace advocacy, education, reorientation, and sustainable peace in their various communities through establishment of YARAC YOUTH VANGUARD as they pledged on giving a more development driven future devoid of conflicts.
In a related development, a similar dialogue for women groups as well as traditional leaders was held on 25th and 27th May 2020 respectively as it provided yet another opportunity for them all to dialogue in the wave of peace and conflict management.
The Women groups and Traditional Rulers in the area drawn from the 3 district areas identified the root causes of conflict in Gwer East Local government among which Unemployment and Non-performance of structures set up to address outbreak of conflict topped the list.
The traditional rulers were of the opinion that for peace to reign within the area, they the Traditional leaders must teach and uphold truth, justice and fairness. Among resolutions of the traditional rulers is that a summit should be organized at the local government level which will bring together relevant and critical stakeholders in the communities to discuss and agree on the way forward for peace and development.
YARAC is currently implementing two projects in Benue State; “Hoping against Hope” (A humanitarian project implemented in the Abagena-Agan IDP Camp), and “Turning our Diversity into Assets”.
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