BUREAU FOR PEACE AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT TAKES ADVOCACY TO NGOs/CSOs AND PEACE GROUPS IN TARABA STATE
By Hilary John
In another strategic move to address some of the critical issues threatening the peace of the state, the Taraba State Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management on Thursday met with a coalition of Non – Governmental Organizations, Civil Societies and Peace Advocacy Groups operating in the state.
The engagement which among other things was to strengthen collaboration and partnership was attended by top leaders of the Peace Architecture Dialogue (PAD) and Taraba Forum of Farmers and Herders Relations (TAFFAHR) and COALITION of NGOs & CSOs.
Speaking at the meeting, Bishop Innocent Rubiruka Solomon, Chairman of the Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management, expressed his gratitude to Governor Agbu Kefas for his visionary leadership and initiatives towards peace and conflict management in the state.
He explained that the meeting is aimed at engaging with critical stakeholders in the peace industry in the state in order foster harmonious working relationship between the bodies and the Bureau for effective coverage of the state.
According to him, the Vision and mission of TSBPCM is to create peaceful communities, empower communities and stakeholders with conflict management mechanisms while fostering peace building initiatives through collaborative efforts with governmental, non governmental and community actors to secure an inclusive Taraba State where communities co -exist harmoniously and conflicts are transformed through dialogue.
Bishop Innocent Solomon said the Bureau will focus on the conflict prevention, resolution, transformation, management, advocacy, peace building and interfaith dialogue among others.
He assured that the Bureau is working towards ensuring that violent conflicts become a thing of the past in Taraba State.
The Chairman noted the strategic role of NGOs/ CSO groups in building peaceful communities in the state and rolled out the Bureau’s strong plans to collaborate and partner with the stakeholders in carrying out its mandate.
Various speakers responded by commending the approach of the Bureau in reaching out to the coalition. Amongst participants were Prof Tirmidhi Aliyu, state chairman TAFFAHR, Prof Joseph Lucas, state Chairman of the PAD, Dr Abel Lamido Director, Center for Peace and Good Leadership Awareness and many other distinguished scholars and peace practitioners in the state.
The Special Adviser to the Taraba State Governor on Conflict Resolution, Hon. Danasali Biru, encouraged leaders to put away all forms of sentiments, tribal and religious and strengthen collaborative efforts for peace and development in the state.
