By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

The first set of United Nations supported Political Advisers Course 1/22 and Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Children as Soldiers in Armed Conflict Course 1/22, has graduated from the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.

Garba Muhammad, News Express Regional Editor, was among graduands of Political Advisers course.

Graduands who attended the two courses for two weeks at the Centre of Excellence in Jaji were drawn from the armed forces, para-military, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as journalists and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

In his address at the combined graduation ceremony on Friday, the Commandant of the Peace Keeping Centre, Major General Auwal Jibril Fagge, said the training has prepared the graduands to understand and appreciate the complexity and sensitivity of the multi-dymensional roles in peace keeping mission.

According to the Commandant, graduates of Political Advisers course were now better informed on how to play roles, mandates and response mechanism of international, regional and local actors within different scenarios.

“As you graduate today, you should always remember that as trained political advisers and prevention of children, you are now the vanguards and experts against the use of children as soldiers in armed conflict.

“You are now the vanguards of the new approach in the complexity of political and security environment in any United Nations, African Union Mission and other regional mission operations.

“Your mission is to assist the Head of Mission and operational commanders to thoroughly assess, monitor and analyse the impact and political prospects, actions and inactions.

“You can now apply these concepts and techniques of negotiations and mediation models to alternate dispute resolution.

“It is hoped that what you have learnt here will reflect in your performances and conduct in your various places of work and deployment,” Maj. Gen. Fagge added.

He enjoined participants to ensure the application of these knowledge and techniques in preventing, resolving crisis and ensuring reconciliation, as well as ensuring peaceful society.

The course was intended to train Political Advisers for United Nations Mission in Africa, African Union, ECOWAS, Military operations and missions.

The course was also aimed at providing participants with the skills to collect, analyse report, brief and give advice on development concerning the area of Peace Mission operation.

While the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Children as Soldiers in Armed Conflict was aimed at enhancing the knowledge of participants to recognise the essence of recruitment and use of child soldiers around the globe.

The two weeks of intensive training covered all aspects of political advisers course and the prevention of the recruitment and the use of children as soldiers in armed conflict courses modules.

Representative of the graduands of the two courses and Principal Intelligence Officer, Department of State Security, Pamela Ugbonta, in her vote of thanks, assured that the knowledge gained would be put to good use at the various units, formations, organisations and when deployed as political advisers and child protectors in conflict areas.