Twenty-four communities in twelve Local government areas of Kaduna and Kano states are to benefit from the System and structure strengthening approach against Radicalization to violent extremism (SARVE lll) project implemented by ActionAid Nigeria which is aimed at strengthening community resilience against violent extremism in the state, it was learnt.
DailyNews 24 observed that the Kaduna communities and LGAs includes: Wusasa, Gwargwaje, Kudan, Likoro, Damishi,Kujama, Nariya kudenden,Turunku, Gumel, ,Takau, and Angua Masara communities of Zaria, Kudan, Chikun,Igabi, Kachia and Jema’a LGAs respectively,
While Kano communities and LGAs are; Dan-zabuwa, Bichi, Gwarzo, Getso, Gama, Brigade, Gwale, Doreyi, Dwarmi, Kofa, Tudun wada and Yaryasa of Bichi, Gwarzo, Nasarawa, Gwale, Bebeji and Tudun wada LGAs which Youths(male and female) and In-School children are the direct and indirect beneficiaries of the project.
This is according to the Communication Officer, ActionAid Nigeria, Peace Eneja, during a 2-day Media master class on preventing and countering violent extremism(PCVE) in Kaduna and Kano states with the theme: creating enabling environment and shaping peace through conflict sensitive reporting for Journalists in an hotel at Keffi.
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Eneja said the programme which is funded by Global community Engagement and Resilience Fund(GCERF), in partnership with the Global peace Development(GPD), Kaduna and Democratic Action Group(DAG), Kano, will raise awareness on the dangerous of violent extremism, develop new and nurture existing effective response systems, promote peaceful co-existence, encourage shared positive alternative narratives, and build social cohesion among vulnerable groups.
She further explained that the SARVE lll project will be achieved by empowering communities to identify threats and signs of violent extremism, peace building initiatives, conflict resolution systems, platforms for intercommunal dialogue and advocacy.
According to her, ” Since building resilience to violent extremism requires structural, perception and behavioural changes in communities, the 36moths projects will raise awareness on the dangers of violent extremism, develop new and nurturing existing effective response systems, among others in 24 communities in 12LGAs of Kaduna and Kano states.
“SARVE lll project will work closely with the office of the Governor, Ministries of Women Affairs and social development, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education, other relevant MDAs, Community based organizations, and youth groups.
“The project outcomes are; Decreased vulnerability of at-risk young men and women-individual level, community Systems and structures to address violent extremism, strengthened-community level, and improved enabling environment for preventing violent extremism-Government/institutional level”, she said.
Speaking on the role of the media and the prevention of violent extremism as enshrined in the National action plan and policy framework on PCVE, Resilience Programme and Consortium coordinator, ActionAid Nigerian, Anicetus Atakpu said, In pursuance of the implementation of the SARVE lll project which is centered majorly around the National action plan on preventing and countering extremism assigned by the President in 2017 and been coordinated by the office of the National Security adviser(NSA), one key component of the National Action Plan centered around working with the media.
“The media is one of the core constituencies of the document. The component 4 of it talks about working with strategic communication in addressing issues of violent extremism because there is a very key need for counter narratives.
You will agree with me that violent extremism is ideologically driven and based on some of the drivers of violent extremism are very clear.
The ideology behind those thoughts, actions carried by that extremism needs to be counter narrated so as to keep the story straight and the media becomes very key.
“Even though the media is more core on component 4, component 1, 2, 3 also need the media, because when steps are taken, the media need to let the people know, so the media play a very key role in the implementation of that strategic document, so it becomes very difficult for us to implement a PCVE programme without working very closely with the Media.
“We feel that the project which just started in January is in its second quarter, it’s a three years project that will be ending in December 2024, there is the need for us to have this capacity building for the media, so that they are well grounded on issues of PCVE, and when they are doing their reportage, and working with us in the project, they are able to get it clear” Atakpu explained.
He therefore charged the Media to institutionalize and integrate strategic communication as a holistic approach in preventing and countering violent extremism.
“Journalists should understand peace and conflict reporting, be cautious on choice of language and words, avoid sensationalism and embrace professionalism in their reportage.
“Prevention of violent extremism requires looking beyond strict security concerns to development related solutions so as to protect the security of people and property”.
