The has trained community volunteers on peacebuilding in as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots responses to conflict and promote peaceful coexistence among residents.
The training, held at the NUT Hall in Bokkos, brought together youths from various districts across the local government area. The programme aimed to equip participants with practical knowledge and skills to promote non-violence, dialogue, and cooperation within their communities.
Welcoming participants, the State Coordinator of the foundation, , commended the youths for attending the peacebuilding training and urged them to take the lessons seriously in order to promote unity and stability in their communities.
He emphasized the need for a renewed approach to addressing recurring conflicts, noting that sustainable peace can only be achieved when communities work collectively and remain committed to protecting one another and their localities.
Speaking during the training, the National Director of the foundation, , said his passion for peaceful communities inspired the establishment of the organisation. According to him, he has spent more than two decades working across communities in Nigeria to promote peace and conflict resolution.
“I have been involved in peacebuilding for over 20 years, moving from one community to another to ensure people can live together peacefully and that conflicts are resolved through dialogue and understanding,” he said.
Prof. Maren explained that the initiative, titled “Building Bridges: A Community Initiative for Peace,” focuses on training local peace volunteers drawn from various communities. He noted that the volunteers are equipped with skills such as negotiation, reconciliation, and peace advocacy, enabling them to return to their communities to promote peaceful coexistence.
He further identified ignorance, negative perceptions among communities, and religious intolerance as major challenges to peacebuilding. He stressed the need for tolerance and mutual understanding among people of different faiths and backgrounds to reduce recurring conflicts in Bokkos.
Also speaking at the event, , Assembly Chaplain of All Saints Protestant Church and a member of the Nigeria Police Chaplaincy at Barki Ladi Police Barracks, urged participants to embrace peace as a personal responsibility. Quoting Romans 12:18–21, he noted that lasting peace begins with individuals and transcends religious differences.
Facilitator , who trained volunteers on Local Community Peace Projects and humanitarian values, emphasized that building bridges of peace requires forgiveness, respect, patience, and tolerance. He warned that dehumanization, stigmatization, and intolerance based on religion, tribe, or language often undermine harmony in communities.
In a goodwill message, the Divisional Police Officer of Bokkos, represented by , urged the volunteers to remain vigilant and share credible information with security agencies. He also cautioned against shielding criminals, stressing that community cooperation is essential to maintaining peace and security.
Similarly, officer noted that peace begins within individuals before extending to the broader community. He encouraged volunteers to promote reconciliation, share accurate information, and respond to conflicts with patience and compassion.
Also speaking, warned against hatred based on religion or tribe, stressing that genuine peace requires a change of mindset. He urged volunteers to embrace dialogue, mediation, and social cohesion under the “Building Bridges of Peace” initiative and to take ownership of the foundation’s peacebuilding efforts.
One of the volunteers, , commended the foundation for its impactful intervention in Bokkos. He expressed appreciation to the National Director for providing the training and pledged to apply the knowledge gained—particularly in dialogue, mediation, and collaboration—to promote peace and harmony within his community.
