Ugo Aliogo
The U.S. government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) renewed its commitment to supporting peace and tolerance in Nigeria by holding a youth, peace and security summit in Abuja.
In a statement signed by the USAID Development Outreach and Communications Team, it was noted that the Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio Ibrahim, attended the event as the keynote speaker.
The statement also noted that participants at the summit represented youth groups and networks that received support for the USAID Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) activity.
The statement hinted that USAID CIPP is a five-year $15 million activity that promotes peaceful coexistence and collaboration in Nigeria by mitigating violent conflict in at-risk communities.
It further explained that the United States is committed to working with Nigeria in addressing security challenges.
According to the statement, “Our partnership harnesses the diverse strengths of its religious and traditional leaders, women, youth groups, government officials, and civil society. Through initiatives like USAID CIPP, the U.S. government is jointly identifying and promoting community-based solutions, empowering these groups to enhance community responses to challenges and build a resilient and peaceful future together. This summit showcases learnings and best practices from USAID’s investment and achievements towards youth participation and leadership in peace processes across six northern states: Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Benue, Kogi, and Plateau.
“Key highlights from the summit include panel discussions and presentations on strengthening peacebuilding efforts, and building sustainable partnerships between youth-led organisations, government agencies, and civil society groups. Additionally, the summit is amplifying youth voices through the sharing of experiences, successes, and innovative approaches for addressing challenges to insecurity.”
On his part, the United States Chargé d’affaires, David Greene, remarked: “By attending today’s conference, you’ve each signaled how important the cause of peace is for Nigeria. Youth are the bedrock of society’s social and economic development.
The future of Nigeria depends on youth charting a path of peace, as you are the future leaders of this great nation.”
