The British Council in collaboration with Managing Conflict in North East Nigeria have trained traditional rulers, their wives and scribes on dispute resolution through records keeping and respect for human rights in Fika and Damaturu emirates of Yobe state.
The state team leader, MCN, Mr Abdulkadir Sambo stated this during a one day workshop organised for the traditional rulers with the theme “Lesson learning and dissemination” in Damaturu.
Sambo said the training received by the traditional rulers would also provide them with knowledge on human right, gender mainstreaming in reconciliation and mediation process.
“Over 70 per cent of disputes in our society are handled by non-formal sector. Considering their importance, their capacity was built, and we strengthened their interface with the formal sector like police and Judiciary, so that simple issues they can handle are not left to escalate into violence.”
“We now have trained 160 traditional rulers, 160 scribes and 50 wives of the traditional rulers knowing their importance in resolving disputes on marital affairs, children up-bringing and home keeping”, he said.
He explained that Fika and Damaturu emirates were selected to pilot the programme being them strategic before rolling out the second phase, hopely in Gashua, Gaidam and Potiskum emirates.
He called on the beneficiaries to step down the lesson learnt from the programme to their colleagues who were not opportuned to be selected “Because, both the emirates have over 1000 traditional rulers each, so 400 is not enough”.
A consultant of Green Horizon, Mrs Hadiza Bukar, said the participants were trained on how they can record data and have the statistics of crimes in their communities.
“This would help them to know whether or not the level of crime has reduced to enhance reconciliation and stability Within their domains, in particular those affected by displacement”, she said.
She stressed the need for every traditional to improve his conflict resolution mechanisms to surmount violent extremism in the Northeast.
