Gombe: The Gombe State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project has begun peacebuilding training for members of the Early Warning Early Response (EWER) committee from the state’s 11 Local Government areas.
Dr Sani Jauro, Gombe ACReSAL Project Coordinator, who spoke at the commencement of the training in Gombe on Monday, said the move was to foster harmony and prevent conflicts in communities where ACReSAL projects are being implemented.
Jauro said the training’s goal was to empower the participants with the knowledge needed to maintain peace and resolve disputes effectively.
He said that at least 310 members of the committee, comprising religious and community leaders and other stakeholders who influence other members of their communities, are involved in the training.
He said the training was essential for the smooth implementation and success of ACReSAL projects in the state.
While emphasising the importance of peace-building in protecting community livelihoods and securing the project’s investments, Jauro commended communities in the state for their commitment to promoting peace.
The project coordinator said that the state government, under the leadership of Gov. Inuwa Yahaya, has invested a lot of resources in maintaining the prevailing peace in the state.
“This training is to consolidate that effort to ensure we sustain the peaceful coexistence that Gombe state is known for.
“Peacebuilding is essential for successfully implementing ACReSAL projects, which aim to tackle land degradation and climate change in the region.
“This is why we are engaging you towards building a conflict-free society,” he said.
Jauro said that during the training, participants would be assisted in developing early warning and response systems to identify and address potential conflicts before they escalate.
Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, the Village Head of the Doho community in Kwami Local Government Area ( LGA), lauded ACReSAL for the training, which he said would enhance his ability to resolve problems like farmer-herder conflicts.
Mrs Justina Umar, a woman leader from the Malam-Inna community in Gombe LGA, commended ACReSAL for including women in the training, stressing that such would ensure no one was left behind.
