From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Government has commended Mercy Corps, a non-governmental organization, for its efforts in promoting peace and fostering social cohesion in rural communities.
The commendation was made by the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Engineer Sirajo Yazid Abukur, during the closing ceremony of a four-day intensive peace-building training for youths organized by Mercy Corps.
The training brought together 50 participants from Sabuwa, Safana, Dandume, and Faskari Local Government Areas, focusing on conflict analysis, negotiation techniques, and mediation skills. Experts also emphasized community resilience, highlighting the importance of collective action in addressing mistrust, misinformation, and unemployment.
Declaring the training officially closed, Eng. Abukur described Mercy Corps as a key partner to the state government in restoring peace.
“We commend Mercy Corps for working with the state government to address insecurity in our state. Mercy Corps remains a vital partner in our effort to promote peace, especially in our communities,” he said.
He added that the training would equip participants with the knowledge and techniques needed to resolve conflicts and sustain peace in their communities, and assured that his ministry would continue collaborating with Mercy Corps for the implementation of its programs.
Earlier, the Program Manager of Mercy Corps, Philip Ikita, explained that participants were trained in early conflict detection as a tool for preventing violence. He urged them to take the knowledge back to their communities to achieve lasting impact.
A participant from Dandume Local Government, Nasiba, said the training empowered her with practical skills in implementing peace initiatives and strengthened her role as a woman in conflict prevention.