SFCG equips 40 community leaders to sustain peacebuilding efforts in Adamawa,Taraba

YOLA —By Ojoma Yusuf,Yola

Search for Common Ground (SFCG), with support from the European Union (EU), has trained over 40 members of Community Response Networks (CRN) and (CSAD) Community Security Architecture Dialogues, (PAD) Peace Architecture Dialogue,(TAFFAHR) Taraba Forum for Farmers and Herders Relations,(AFFAHR ) Adamawa Forum for Farmers and Herders ,(MDAs) and (CSOs) Government Agencies from Adamawa and Taraba under COMITAS 11 Project.

The initiative, as stated by the organization, is geared towards sustaining peace building efforts following SFCG’s planned withdrawal from the region.

The two years project has impacted 32 communities across nine Local Government Areas (LGAs), improving the perspectives of the people on the importance of dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

The local government councils involved include Girei, Lamurde, Guyuk, Shelleng, Zing, Lau, Numan, Demsa, and Mayo-Belwa from both Taraba and Adamawa State.

At a recent capacity-building workshop, COMITAS II Project Manager, Gambo Wada, urged CRN and CSAD members to take proactive leadership roles in managing conflicts and promoting peace.

Wada emphasized the importance of leadership skills, project monitoring and evaluation, resource mobilization, and proposal writing for securing grants to sustain the peacebuilding momentum.

Dubi Sonam,The State Project/ Training Coordinator,highlighted the need for advocacy and sensitization of major stakeholders, government agencies, and communities to ensure the project’s sustainability.

Sonam reiterated that the training has equipped participants with the tools to mitigate conflicts, particularly between farmers and herders, fostering lasting peace.

Participants at the workshop pledged to adopt diverse strategies to maintain the project’s impact.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Dr. Calvin Yusuf, expressed gratitude to SFCG for its transformative intervention. He noted that the training has equipped them with practical tools to sustain peace in their communities, ensuring the legacy of the COMITAS II Project endures.

The COMITAS II Project’s focus on inclusive, community-driven dialogue continues to lay the groundwork for long-term stability in Adamawa and Taraba states.