Worried by the spate of farmer and herder clashes over natural resources in Adamawa State of Nigeria in recent times, an international organisation, Search for Common Ground in conjuction with Two (2) other organisations has trained Twenty (20) Youths on how to build peace and social cohesion.
The NGO in collaboration with International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Mercy Corps, being funded by the European Union provided the 3 day training for diverse youths in the state.
According to the organisers of the event, the organisations are implementing a project entitled, "COMITAS" (Contributing to the Mitigation of Conflict over Natural Resources between farmer and herder communities in Adamawa State).
The induction program is coming when the atmosphere in some parts of the state is charged with clashes between farmers and herdsmen which result to loss of lives and property from both sides; hence, the significance of the program not only to the participants but the state in general.
More importantly, the event attracted participants who have influence on social media and equipped them on how they can contribute to the mitigation of the protracted conflicts through the production of films and content on their social media handles with a view to changing negative narratives on the burning issue.
Additionally, it introduced the participants into the COMITAS Fellowship where it provided them with an in-depth understanding of the fellowship program, project objectives, how they can intertwine, and how they can accomplish it.
Cross section of the youth who bared their minds to newsmen during the event held at Alheri Hotel in Yola, the Adamawa State capital recently, appreciated the UN funded organisations for providing rare opportunity for them to contribute their part in building peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers.
Fielding questions from newsmen, a participant, Dogara Iliya, said that he had learnt on how to craft or tell a compelling story to the people be it on the social media and how to engage them humanly, saying that "it was a rigorous training for us".
Dogara, further stated thus:" my engagement on social media is going to be different entirely after this training most especially on knowledge and information sharing".
On her part, Aisha Nana Bello, said that she was excited to be part of the fellowship, adding that she has been equipped with knowledge on how she will contribute her part to promote peace.
Aisha Nana, told newsmen that " I have learnt on how to establish common ground in whatever I am going to do", stating further that she can now be able to use communication skills in addressing issues.
Addressing the participants earlier, the Head of Office Search for Common Ground, Middle Belt, Chris Ogbonna, disclosed that the fellowship program is part of way of reaching out to young people and not limited to students, but young people who are media influencers, or have certain level of leadership capacities in their different communities.
Ogbonna, who is also the State Project Manager COMITAS Project, pointed out that it is a Nine (9) month programme that will build capacity in order to change negative stereotypes, adding that the target is how to change the narratives around the farmer and herder conflicts.
While baring her mind to newsmen, the Media Co-ordinator Search for Common Ground, Adamawa State, Nandak Chingle, stated that they expect that at the end of 9 months they will see difference in the information that they share.
Nandak, explained that what they want is a kind of change in negative narratives concerning conflicts in and around Adamawa State.
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