By MUSA DAUDU, Damaturu

The African Youth for Peace Development and Empowerment Foundation (AFRYDEV) with the support of International Alert under the European Union (EU) has organised series of events including drama, talk show aimed at resolving conflicts and peace building in Yobe State.

The Foundation told news men that these events are part of their efforts to ensure that peace reigns in the state.

They also told journalists in Damaturu the drama is part of peace dialogue and reintegration,

Senior Programme officer of the Foundation Abdullahi Edoka, said AFRYDEV supports early recovery from conflict and resilience building project in Yobe State to forestall further conflicts in the state.

Edoka, explains this during a capacity building in Damaturu, Yobe State capital, stressing that the youths demonstrate the traumatic experience of Gender Based Violence survivors in the hands of insurgents and experience of stigmatization faced as they return to their community.

Edoka in the same breadth said it shows how community can participate in peace building process through forgiveness and reconciliation efforts to reintegrate survivors back to community in a dignified manner.

“This project will mainstream conflict sensitivity activities in addressing challenges of reintegration posed by fear and mistrust that antagonized and stained family and community relationships. He said.

“The choice of drama and talk show is to attract community youths as social activities have proved to be a global instrument of reaching youths.

“Furthermore, it will provide a platform to sensitize community members on peace, conflict, forgiveness and reminder to the youth of their critical role as backbone of society in promoting peaceful reintegration of women and girls returnees affected by Boko Haram in a bid to increase social cohesion,” he said.

Edoka disclosed that AFRYDEV team has facilitated 29 sessions of youths dialogue and engaged 10 youths per three communities (15 male and 15 female) across Damaturu, Gujba and Potiskum LGAs making a total of 30 youths from each LGA.

According to him, “Selected youth participated in series of initiative aimed to strengthen social fabric and build resilience of insurgency affected communities”.

Mohammed Musa and Umar Abdullahi from Potiskum and Fika, respectively applauded AFRYDEV for initiating the programme which they said has reawakened them.

“We really want to thank International Alert and AFYDEV for initiating such activity where youths can demonstrate their hiding talent to promote peace building, this is more than giving food items, I pray that all of us here will be an advocate of peace,” they said.

Two clerics from Muslim and Christian faiths were part of the resource persons at the capacity building.

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