From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
The North East Youth Initiative for Development (NEYIF) has called on the Sokoto State Government to ensure that the bill to enact a state Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee passes and is assented to by the governor.
Comrade Mohammed Dauda Gombe, Executive Director of NEYIF, stated this while briefing newsmen in Sokoto. He emphasized the need for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee to be legally established in Sokoto State.
Gombe noted that Northwestern Nigeria continues to face evolving security challenges, ranging from armed banditry and insurgent activities to communal clashes and the rise of extremist groups, which exploit local grievances for recruitment.
According to him, these threats, if unchecked, deepen poverty, weaken trust, and fracture social bonds. NEYIF’s interventions across Sokoto communities have focused on empowering teachers, strengthening community-led dispute resolution, mobilizing youth and women, and building resilience through inclusive dialogue, livelihoods, and social awareness campaigns.
NEYIF convened 10 quarterly review meetings with trained teachers from Wamakko, Sokoto North, Kware, and Sokoto South LGAs. Each meeting brought together 48 secondary school teachers previously trained in learner-centered and conflict-sensitive pedagogical methods.
These gatherings became platforms for peer learning, collective problem-solving, and solidarity. Teachers discussed pressing realities, including overcrowded classrooms, poor infrastructure, limited access to digital learning tools, and the need for improved sanitation in schools.
Key recommendations emerged, including revitalizing Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), promoting parental involvement in school governance, and increasing structured follow-up training and mentorship for teachers.
NEYIF reaffirmed its commitment to bridging gaps in teacher capacity, fostering school-community partnerships, and advancing quality, inclusive education as a cornerstone of peacebuilding.
Beyond the classroom, NEYIF’s interventions supported five reflective meetings with Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) platforms across Sokoto communities. These forums built local mediation capacity, restored trust in traditional mechanisms of dispute resolution, and reduced reliance on external interventions.
Notable initiatives included the formation of a Community Vigilante Group in Gidan Igwai in Sokoto North LGA to combat kidnapping and enhance security, improved oversight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Mabera of Sokoto South LGA, and action against drug abuse in Burabawa in Kware LGA.
NEYIF convened 10 quarterly dialogue sessions involving 80 participants, among whom were 56 men and 24 women, to discuss issues like rising theft and escalating drug abuse. These dialogues promoted trust, empathy, and collective problem-solving.
NEYIF and AYCI hosted monthly radio programs on Vision FM, tackling issues like women’s roles in peacebuilding and security challenges. Youth-led social media campaigns promoted responsible online behavior and countered extremist propaganda.
In collaboration with the Sokoto State Ministry of Religious Affairs, 100 youth met with Islamic scholars to discuss ethical digital engagement and resisting extremist narratives. NEYIF also ran media literacy workshops for youth, teaching them to detect bias and promote responsible media use.
Over 200 participants attended awareness sessions on pressing issues like drug abuse, gender-based violence (GBV), and child hawking. The annual 16 Days of Activism against GBV mobilized 67 participants to call for stronger child protection frameworks.
NEYIF implemented Cash-for-Work projects, training youth and women in vocational skills and providing start-up grants and tools. Many of these youth now run small businesses, reducing vulnerability to extremist recruitment.
The interventions have produced measurable impact, including increased capacity of local organizations to detect and respond to early warning signs of extremism. Community leaders have pledged to sustain activities beyond the project’s lifespan.
Comrade Dauda Muhammad Gombe said, “This project has shown us that women and young people are not just beneficiaries—they are leaders in peacebuilding.” He emphasized that “peacebuilding must be people-centered.”
The achievements were attributed to collective ownership by teachers, youth, women leaders, traditional rulers, security actors, and ordinary citizens across Sokoto communities.
NEYIF expressed gratitude for GCERF’s support and pledged to continue partnering with newsmen to celebrate progress and amplify solutions.
Together, they aim to show that Sokoto is a land defined by resilience, unity, and hope, rather than violence.