• Super Admin
• 08 Mar, 2026

STAKEHOLDERS in peacebuilding have called for stronger collaboration between state institutions and community actors to address conflict drivers and promote sustainable peace in Kaduna State. The call was made on Saturday in Kaduna during an Executive Peace Roundtable organised under the Delimi PROSPER Project to generate practical solutions for peace and development. The dialogue, implemented by Search for Resilience and Development with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's SPRiNG programme, gathered policymakers, youth representatives and development partners. Security actors, traditional leaders, civil society organisations and disability inclusion advocates also participated, exploring sustainable peacebuilding approaches and ways to strengthen cooperation between communities and government institutions. Project Officer of the Delimi PROSPER Project in Kaduna, Salim Yunusa, said the initiative aimed to deepen interaction and understanding between citizens and government through structured dialogue. "Collaboration between communities and public institutions remains the most reliable pathway to sustainable progress, unity and development across Kaduna State," Yunusa said. He said the project had organised engagements with government officials, youth groups and stakeholders to strengthen dialogue and public participation in peacebuilding initiatives. "Today's roundtable marks the beginning of deeper conversations aimed at identifying practical solutions that can improve peace and development outcomes," Yunusa added. Executive Director of the Delimi PROSPER Project, Richard Ali, said many conflicts in Nigeria were often framed along ethnic or religious lines but rooted in deeper structural challenges. "Pressures over resources, governance gaps, environmental change and the narratives communities construct around these pressures often fuel conflicts," Ali said. He explained that the project focused on non-kinetic interventions, emphasising youth knowledge, storytelling and engagement in policy processes rather than relying solely on security responses. Ali said 60 young people from Kaduna and Plateau states were trained on environmental conflict dynamics, countering extremist narratives and documenting socio-environmental advocacy. "The participants later formed a community of practice producing documentaries, podcasts and digital storytelling to promote peaceful coexistence and awareness of resource-related conflicts," he said. Kaduna State Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, said the government was ready to collaborate with civil society and development partners to curb misinformation and hate speech. "Youth engagement in peacebuilding is commendable, but closer collaboration with government institutions, including the Ministry of Education, is necessary," Maiyaki said. He cautioned that youth-produced documentaries, podcasts and digital storytelling must be carefully guided to avoid narratives capable of triggering tension within communities. "Communication strategies must reflect Kaduna's complex social dynamics," he said, warning that careless language and unverified social media content could escalate tensions. Maiyaki said many people, including media practitioners, often failed to distinguish between misinformation, disinformation and malinformation despite their differing implications in conflict situations. He called for stronger collaboration among government, media organisations and civil society groups to promote responsible communication and prevent false narratives. The commissioner reaffirmed the state government's willingness to work with partners to develop frameworks supporting responsible communication and sustainable peace. In a communiqué issued after the meeting, participants emphasised preventive and non-kinetic approaches to complement existing security responses to conflict challenges. The communiqué also highlighted the growing influence of youth voices and digital narratives in shaping public perception and strengthening community early-warning systems. Participants further stressed the need for closer collaboration between government institutions and community actors to address emerging peace and security concerns in Kaduna State. (NAN) Source: https://realnewsmagazine.net/kaduna-stakeholders-seek-stronger-state-community-collaboration-for-peace/