NGO Seeks Partnership For Ex-Militants’ Training

A Non-Governmental
Organisation, Search for Common Ground (SFCG), has advocated more collaboration between communities and non-governmental agencies for the successful training and rehabilitation of ex-militants in the Niger Delta.
Speaking at a press briefing organised by Tomorrow is a New Day (TND), a project of SFCG in Port Harcourt recently, the country Director of the organisation, Mr Chom Bagu, said the programme, which started in 2011, has worked with over 8,000 persons consisting of women and youths including 336 former militants in seven communities in three Niger Delta States.
Bagu identified women as key players in community development, emphasising that they were pivotal in the upbringing of children and youths and should be included in decision making processes.
He explained that women were closest to young persons and were almost always the first point of contact in times of crisis and charged them to live up to their responsibilities.
The director said TND was a European Union (EU) sponsored programme under SFCG, designed to funding solutions to community level conflicts and rehabilitation of ex-militants and unemployed youths.
He said reason for TND was to address the problem that ensued from non-militant youths who were aggrieved over the Federal Government Amnesty Programme for ex-militants adding that through TND, SFCG has been able to re-orientate the minds of such youths to reject violence and agitations, increase community trust and cohesion.
Bagu further said, SFCG, works to address inter-religious tensions, human rights and impunity while supporting the national amnesty process and community reconciliation process in the country.

Tonye Nria-Dappa