Communities across 20 political wards in 10 local government areas of Sokoto State have held quarterly town hall meetings aimed at strengthening peacebuilding, dialogue and social cohesion, while addressing challenges related to natural resource management. The engagements were organised under the RECAP Project, implemented by Save the Child Initiative in……
Communities across 20 political wards in 10 local government areas of Sokoto State have held quarterly town hall meetings aimed at strengthening peacebuilding, dialogue and social cohesion, while addressing challenges related to natural resource management.
The engagements were organised under the RECAP Project, implemented by Save the Child Initiative in consortium with Action Against Hunger and International Alert, with funding from the European Union.
The quarterly meetings brought together a wide range of community stakeholders, including youth representatives, elders, farmers, herders, members of the Women Mediators Network, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), religious leaders, community representatives and security agencies.
Speaking during one of the engagements, the RECAP Project Officer of Save the Child Initiative in Sokoto State, Tokara Lizkebe KB, said the meetings were designed to identify and address the root causes of conflict while promoting dialogue, collaboration, mutual understanding and sustainable peace.
She said bringing people from diverse backgrounds together provides an opportunity for community members to openly discuss issues affecting them, understand different perspectives and collectively develop practical solutions to prevent and manage conflicts.
The meetings were held across Bodinga, Yabo, Tambuwal, Shagari, Wamakko, Dange Shuni, Gwadabawa, Kware, Sokoto North and Sokoto South Local Government Areas.
Participants were drawn from various wards across the project’s areas of implementation, ensuring broad representation and active participation in the discussions.
During the engagements, participants identified several factors contributing to conflict and insecurity in their communities, including banditry, farmer-herder disputes, competition over scarce natural resources such as water and land, misunderstandings among community members and unemployment.
They also stressed the need to strengthen communication and dialogue within communities and ensure that emerging disputes are addressed promptly before they escalate into violent conflicts.
Some participants commended the initiative, saying the quarterly town hall meetings had enhanced their understanding of peacebuilding, natural resource management, conflict prevention and the role of dialogue in resolving disputes.
They emphasised that sustained engagement among community stakeholders remains critical to building trust, promoting peaceful coexistence and creating safer and more resilient communities across Sokoto State.
The organisers said the quarterly engagements would continue to provide a platform for communities to collectively identify challenges, strengthen local conflict-resolution mechanisms and promote peaceful coexistence.
