In its continuous efforts to promote peaceful coexistence in Jos North LGA and Plateau State, The Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Right Abuse (YIAVHA) has organised a stakeholders’ meeting on the Prospects of the Youth Interfaith Relations Network (YIRN) in the Plateau.
The group said the dialogue was meant to strengthen efforts to promote peaceful coexistence in Jos North LGA and the state at large.
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The meeting is coming one month after the group commissioned 50 Youth Peace Ambassadors, who were drawn from both Christian and Muslim communities
In his address during the meeting, the Executive Director of YIAVHA, Comrade Pwakim Jacob Choji, said: “We felt bringing these stakeholders cutting across civil society, media, security and youths from Jos North LGA to discuss issues on how we can strengthen the Youth Interfaith Relations Network, so that it becomes an effective tool in mobilising young people towards more positive attitude that may impact on communities.
“This programme is also to hear from the professionals and to really bridge the gap between the community actors we have been working with and the other people that are more professional on the job, so that we can all be on the same platform.
“We have also brought in persons to share their experiences in lessons learned from other youth platforms; believing that these community ambassadors are going to be inspired by the level of work that has been done.
The Director General, Plateau Peace Building Agency, Joseph Lengmang, said the agency was working to ensure that an interreligious agency was established in the state.
He added that a framework has been drafted and submitted to the governor and awaiting approval.
Lengmang urged youths in the state to amplify the use of social media to promote peaceful activities.
He commended YIAVHA for its efforts in curtailing youth restiveness and promotion of peace coexistence among troubled communities.
In his remarks, Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), saddled with the responsibility of maintaining peace in the state, Major General Chukwuma Okonkwo, said, “One of the major causes of these challenges in most communities is poverty.’’
According to him, during the recent looting of palliatives in the state, perpetrators did not consider religion or ethnic group, but worked in unison to loot the palliatives.
“Another major problem of youths in the state is unemployment, urging government to create job opportunities for the youths.’’
Okwonkwo called on the rich in various communities to at least reach out to the poor in their communities.
“These poor people you are reaching out to may even be the ones to protect you in times of unrest.”
Mallam Aminu Sheriff, while sharing the experience of two border communities (Anguwan Damisa and Bala Kaze, all in Jos North LGA), said, “Hitherto, we don’t see eye-to-eye; there was so much suspicion between the two border communities.’’
