Boko Haram: VSF launches Peace-Building Project in Adamawa
NAN-DS-10
Project
By Yakubu Uba
Mubi (Adamawa), Dec. 7, 2017 (NAN) The Victims Support Fund (VSF) on Thursday launched peace building project for communities in areas affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in Adamawa.
Speaking at the launching ceremony in Mubi, the Executive Director of the fund, Prof. Sunday Ochoche, said the pilot project would commence in Mubi North, Mubi South and Michika local government areas.
Represented by Mr Hamza Mohammed the Programme Officer, Peace Building and Research of the fund, Ochoche said the project would be implemented in collaboration with indigenous Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the affected communities.
“We have identified indigenous CSOs to facilitate the project implementation. We are giving them the financial and technical support to succeed,” Ochoche said.
He called for the support and cooperation of traditional and religious leaders to the project through preaching for peaceful coexistence and against extremism.
He listed the various projects in areas of education, health, agriculture and empowerment being executed by VSF in North-East, adding that without peace such projects would not thrive.
The Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Abubakar Isa, represented by the Galadima of Mubi, Alhaji Abubakar Jauro, lauded the initiative of the fund and assured of the traditional institution’s support to the project.
“This project is timely and a welcome one. I want to assure you that we are ready to work with you for a lasting peace,” Isa said.
The Rector of Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Dr Sadiq Yahya, represented by the Deputy Rector Academics, Mr David Benyi, also lauded the project and assured of the support the academic community for the project.
Yahya also urged VSF to extend some of its intervention projects to the polytechnic in view of the destruction suffered by the institution during the invasion of Mubi town by the insurgents.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that launching ceremony was witnessed by students, community leaders, youth groups and associations.
The launch also featured drama, lectures by religious leaders and paper presentation on peace building.(NAN)
YMU/AMY/AMY
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf