By Angela Atabo
The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has reiterated its commitment to strengthen partnership with the Kaduna State Government on peace building.
The Acting Country Director of the institute, Dr Chris Kwaja, made the promise in Kaduna on Thursday, during a meeting with Mr Atiku Sankey, Special Adviser to Gov. Uba Sani on Peacebuilding.
Kwaja said that the USIP has been working with the Kaduna State Peace Commission to strengthen the state’s peace building efforts.
He explained that the visit, was to introduce the institute and its peace building initiatives in the state since 2016 to the new administration.
“We are here to congratulate the new government in Kaduna State and understand the focus of the government on peacebuilding.
“This will enable USIP to determine how to support the peace building process with a view to achieve lasting peace in the state.
“USIP has trained and supported six peace facilitators in Kaduna, through its Network of Nigerian Facilitators project.
“The facilitators were expected to organise dialogues in their various communities that will help address conflicts by promoting peace,” he said.
Kwaja added that USIP would continue to partner with the Kaduna State Peace Commission and extend the peace building platform to other peace builders across the state and the country.
He said that USIP Country Office has concluded plans to bring stakeholders together within the month, to appraise its peace building efforts and to roll out future plans.
Responding, Sankey thanked Kwaja and USIP for the sustained support to promote peace in Kaduna state.
He said that the Sani-led administration was committed to uniting the people as against the current divide along ethnic and religious lines.
“The current government is already doing this through inclusive governance while jettisoning divisive politics which is the key driver of hate, intolerance, and violent confrontations,” he said.
Sankey reaffirmed the commitment of Gov. Sani-led government to heal the pains of the people and reconcile them to live in peace and harmony with one another. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Philip Yatai
