Advocacy Network Urges NDE To Establish Employment, Peace Committees

By Khalid Idris Doya

Bauchi Youth Religion Advocacy Network has observed that unemployment and lack of vocational opportunities are significant contributors to religious conflicts in the state.

To this end, the network seeks the support of the National Directorate for Employment (NDE) in integrating freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) principles into employment initiatives to promote peace and resilience among communities in the state.

The Network representative, Abraham Jeremiah Kassem during an Network advocacy visit under Search for Common Ground to the NDE office in Bauchi yesterday, noted that misunderstanding could also be reduced through Inter-Faith dialogue, community engagement and collaboration.

Kassem urged the NDE to incorporate interfaith collaboration modules such as workshops into its vocational training programs with a view to unite participants from diverse religious backgrounds.

“Conflict resolution training to enhance tolerance and mutual understanding; joint skill acquisition initiatives to foster unity and collaboration; and Establishment of Employment and Peace Committees to further enhance the impact of NDE programmes.”

Network similarly proposed the creation of Employment and Peace Committees in communities prone to religious tensions whose membership would include representatives from youth, religious groups, and local leaders.

Responding, Bauchi State acting Coordinator of the NDE, Mr. Jamilu Adam said that the directorate was created to facilitate employment of unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions in the country, and commended the advocacy policy of the group.

Malam Jamilu Adamu said that the directorate has a number of programmes tailored to not only reduce unemployment, but also acquire skills for self-reliance, and assured the group of cooperation and collaboration to meet the set objectives.