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Nigerians have been asked to use their cultural diversities in driving the much desired cohesion towards building a greater nation and in preventing violent extremism.
Mr. Anicetus Atakpu, Resillience Programme Coordinator with ActionAid, Team Lead of the SARVE 11 Project, made the appeal at the Cultural Peace Fiesta in Commemoration of the 2021 Global Peace Day.
The Cultural Peace Fiesta is in commemoration of the 2021 Global Peace Day
organized by ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with Participation Initiative for Behavioral Change in Development, (PIBCID), is funded by Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, (GCERF).
The theme of this year’s Cultural Peace Fiesta is Promoting Harmonious Cohabitation Through Culture is an activity in pursuance of the “System and Structure Strengthening Approach against Radicalization to Violent Extremism (SARVE II) in Kogi State Project Phase II”.
Mr. Anicetus said one major means to fight insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity is for Nigerians to appreciate its multicultural diversity and its inherent values that instills discipline and abhors violence.
He urged Nigerians to return to her culture and tradition that breeds togetherness and cohesiveness, insisting that culture if well utilized as was the case in the past, play more roles in uniting the people.
Mr. Anicetus Atakpu advocated the use culture in preventing issues of violent extremism, pointing out that cultures from time immemorial has put in place mechanism that help check drivers of violent extremism in the family, society and in other areas of the Peoples lives.
He tasked Governments at all levels in the State on the need for the sustainability of the systems and structures ActionAid Nigeria has put in place in the State and in communities as a way of fighting violent extremism.
The Resillience Programme Coordinator with ActionAid, Team Lead of the SARVE 11 Project lauded CAT and other structures established and existing in most communities in the State as very sure structures that would remain resolute if sustained by Government and other well meaning individuals and critical stakeholders.
Mr. Anicetus expressed satisfaction with the inauguration of some means of livelihood and the presentation of equipments to some citizens of the State by ActionAid, pointed out that it has helped in improving means of livelihood, employment, consequently, reducing some major drivers of violent extremism.
While noting that ActionAid has within its period of work in the State, has been able to
Impact on the lives of the people by building capacities, sensitization, engagements, and strengthening community capacities towards resilience aimed at preventing violent extremism.
He said as a means of sustaining the peace building efforts of citizens and communities, urged Government at all levels to sustain the tempo put in place by ActionAid towards building capacities that would make citizens and communities watch over there borders, maintaining that no Government can make meaningful achievements without the people.
He further said ActionAid Nigeria will continue to partner with the citizens and Government of Kogi State towards given the necessary support to community’s in building their capacity, aimed at helping them take charge of their security and environment towards preventing violent extremism.
