Worried by the increasing wave of violent extremism across the country, the British Council’s Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) has launched a campaign tagged Positive Voices Campaign Project (PVCP) Community engagement initiative, to boost the resilience of youths to negative influences.
The campaign which is influenced by the counter-terrorism programme of the Office of the National Security Adviser, (NSA) is aimed at repositioning the mindset of the young people in the areas that have experienced one form of conflict or the other.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign in Abuja on Friday, Furera Jamare, the chief executive officer of Micro Development Consulting Limited, managers of the project, explained that the PVCP is about increasing the resilience of youths to negative influences through the identification and training of individuals or Positive Voices from selected states across the country.
She noted that the individuals would serve as role models and mentors to youths in their communities through Community Engagement Initiatives (CEIs).
“As you are aware, over the years there has been a noticeable increase in bigotry, intolerance and violent activities among the youths. We believe that one contributing factor is the lack of positive influences and role models for the country’s teeming youths”, she stressed.
The pilot project which has 18 months guidelines will be implemented in six States of the country; Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Plateau and Yobe.
In his remarks, the NSRP Programe Manager, Ukoha Ukiwo said his organisation is proud to be associated with the initiative which he describe as ‘innovative’ pointing out that it was gratifying joining forces with other civil society organizations to put in place efforts that would engender peace and security of the nation.
“Through the training our ‘positive voices’ have received, we know that they will go back to their communities and reach out to their fellow youths which will go a long way in making their localities better. Their little efforts will contribute to other big ones to bring about a better society”, Ukiwo stated.
He averred that, the programme was carefully designed to enhance compatibility with the targeted areas, beneficiaries as well as produce huge results and lessons which would help in designing subsequent programmes just as he enjoined the trained “voices” to champion the pioneering role bestowed on them with outmost seriousness.
In his explanation, the Project Manager, Innocent Yamuza said the PVCP will be partnering with other relevant stakeholders including community leaders, local and state governments, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the media and other development partners to showcase events that will present the PVs initiatives in the presence interested parties that may choose to fund further intended projects.
Also speaking, the Project Advisory Chairman, Fatima Akilu regretted that many communities have found themselves trapped in consequences of extreme violent clashes even as it is not due to their fault.
