Coalition urges FG to strengthen NIREC

By Osisam Ede

A group under the aegis of Grassroots Youth Coalition on Peace and Security, has urged the federal government to strengthen Nigeria Interreligious Council (NIREC) and create Youth, Peace and Security Intervention Fund to promote human values and non-violence resolution of intra and interreligious conflict at all levels according to United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 2250.

The group, in collaboration with Technoworld community Foundation & Centre for Peace, Democracy and Development (UMASS) Boston, made the call recently in Abuja calling for establishment of fund that can be deployed to increase participation and engagement of youth in peace building and conflict management processes at all levels, in line with UNSC Resolution 2250.

In an address read by the Secretary, the group advocates that the action will provide predictable source of finance for implementation of Youth, Peace and Security Nigeria program (IYPS) and will reduce tendencies for ethno-religious conflicts at all levels.

It called on government to “establish and strengthen Institutional arrangement for effective coordination and mobilization of stakeholders to support the development process of State Action Plan on Youth Peace and Security” asking Ministry of Youth and Sport Development to take lead in implementation.

The coalition pointed to the 2015 United Nation Security Council (UNSC)’s thematic resolution dealing comprehensively with youth in issues related to peace and security. They said that the resolution “responds to wider socio-economic, cultural and political barriers that youth face in their quest of becoming an active agent of positive change, peace-building and reconciliation provide youth the opportunity to actively get involved in healing local communities as both victims of abuse and actors 9in reconstruction.”

Quoting Mr. Ban Ki-moon, former United Nations Secretary General, they recalled that he “mentioned in one of his many presentations that ‘Youth is Hope not Danger” they added that “Indeed youth are one of the greatest assets, who are regarded as partners of today and also the greatest investment for development of any nation, globally.”

Concluding, the group reiterated, “They are valued possession, and without them, there can be no future. They serve as a good measure of extent to which a country can reproduce as well as sustain her. The extent of vitality, responsible conduct and roles is positively correlated with the development of a country.”

The Committee is made up of; Dr. Alhaji Umar Ali- National Coordinator, Dr. Benjamin Ojemire Daniel-National Technical Advisor, Dr. Abdulkadir Ahmed Jogana-Deputy National Coordinator for Northern Region, Comrade Adebogun Dayo Sense- Deputy National Coordinator for Southern Region, Mr. Andy Iji – Head of Youth Networks and Development and Mal. Umar Farouk Mohammed – Secretary.