PADECS urges formation of peace clubs in Nomadic schools to curb farmers, herders clashes

Samuel Luka, Bauchi

A Nongovernmental organization known as Pastoralists Development and Conservation Society of Nigeria (PADECS) has advocated for the formation of peace clubs in Nomadic schools across Nigeria in order to help curb incessant bloody clashes between farmers and herders.

PADECS which stated this in a press release made available to newsmen in Bauchi on Thursday as it joins millions of scholars, students, researchers and pastoralists globally to marks the International Day of Education challenged Stakeholders in the sector to form peace clubs in Nigerian Nomadic schools with a view to addressing farmers and herders disputes.

The Executive Director of the NGO, Mr Shuaibu Aliyu Kobi said that the call became necessary in view of the rising conflict between farmers and herders in Nigeria which has resulted in loss of lives and properties worth billion of naira.

He added that PADECS as a Non-governmental organization is committed to sustainable developments and conservation of pastoralists, rural communities and conservation of wildlife resources in Nigeria.

Kobi while pointing out PADECS is resolute to improve the livelihood of pastoralists and protect their environments, said nomadic pastoralists in Nigeria are facing serious challenges that affect the education of their children.

“Those challenges include conflicts, climate change and malnutrition. However, no serious effort by governments to address those issues which resulted to high number of out of school children, poor enrollment and retention, youth restiveness and drug abuse”, the NGO lamented.

It suggested that the establishment of peace clubs in nomadic schools will create good morals, change attitudes toward peaceful coexistence as well as improve skill of the pupils on conflict prevention and mitigation.

PADECS further observed that the migration of pastoralists has resulted to poor nutrition to their children, thus affecting their learning process, as hunger-related ailments opened avenue for stunted growth.

“Poor enrollment of pastoralists’ children in to schools has impeded aspirations, dreams and educational ambitions of young-minded ones, as such they end up becoming nuisance to communities”, the PADECS said.

The NGO said that the year 2024 is the sixth International Day of Education, themed: “learning for lasting peace”.

According to the NGO, in Nigeria, Herders-farmers conflict also contributes in compelling pastoralists to relocate to safer places not minding wether learning institutions are there or not.

PADECS therefore appealed to governments to install grazing reserves where pastoralists could take their animals to feed, as such, their children would have free time to go to schools.

The Executive Director further urged the governments to engage pastoralist into other business ventures than heavily relying on dairy milk or rearing animals, build modern educational centers in pastoralists settlements, provide free teaching and learning materials as well as strenghening the school feeding program.