Search for Common Ground (SFCG), an international peacebuilding organization, has launched a series of training programs in the Niger Delta aimed at reducing conflict and violence.
Funded by the European Union, these initiatives focus on empowering youth leaders and security agents with the skills and knowledge necessary to promote peaceful coexistence and human rights.
A capacity-strengthening training program for youth leaders recently commenced in Port Harcourt. This programme, part of SFCG’s “A Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta” project, equips young people from Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States with conflict transformation and non-adversarial engagement skills.
The training emphasizes the importance of understanding identity in conflict resolution, exploring how it can be both a connector and a divider. Participants learn to distinguish between conflict and violence, identify visible and invisible conflicts, and address underlying tensions before they escalate.
“This training is designed to empower young persons and youth leaders to use the Common Ground Approach to resolve conflicts in their communities,” explained Cyril Bieh, Lead Consultant and Facilitator. “Our goal is that once they are trained, there will be fewer cases of conflict and violence across these communities.”
Kefas Shutty, Support Consultant for SFCG, emphasized the program’s ripple effect: “Participants have been carefully selected from their communities to gain this knowledge and transfer it back to their people.”
Participants expressed gratitude for the training and shared their plans for implementation. Sydney Iyoyo, from Igbikisikila-ama community, highlighted the importance of identifying the root cause of conflict before attempting resolution. Rosemary Nyekwe, from Eneka community, praised the initiative and its impact on her perspective, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and dialogue in achieving peaceful resolutions.
SFCG also organized a refresher training for security agents in Bayelsa State, recognizing their crucial role in maintaining peace and security. The three-day program, supported by the European Union, focused on re-orienting security agents on human rights principles and fostering trust with citizens.
Phillip Kalio, Capacity Building and Training Coordinator for SFCG, explained that the training aims to bring security agents to a point where they understand that their services require the employment of human rights in their engagement with citizens.
He stressed the importance of a human-centered security approach and the need for collaboration and trust with communities, stating that effective policing relies on information from citizens.
Kalio highlighted the project’s achievements, citing success stories of reduced criminality and increased community collaboration across the operational communities.
He also noted a reduction in illegal bunkering activities and improved unity in communities previously experiencing leadership crises.
Kengkeng Ati, Capacity Building and Training Officer for SFCG, explained that the retraining aims to connect early warning and early response structures to the conventional security architecture for combating criminality and violence. He emphasized the importance of continuous training and behavioral change.
Participants expressed their appreciation for the training. Musa Mohammed, Police Public Relations Officer for Bayelsa State, acknowledged the training’s value and called for more support from partners and individuals to enhance security service delivery.
Chris Agumou of the Nigeria Civil Defense Corps noted a reduction in torture and oil theft due to the training and advocated for continued programs.
Ekimie Jonah of the Nigeria Immigration Services highlighted the importance of inter-agency synergy fostered by the training.
These combined initiatives by SFCG demonstrate a multi-pronged approach to peacebuilding in the Niger Delta, empowering both community members and security actors to work collaboratively towards a more peaceful and just society.
By Preye Okah and Treasure Chisa Achor
