By Mahmoud Dogara (Bauchi State Correspondent)
The West Africa Network for Peace building (WANEP,) has launched a special project on teaching curriculum for the Prevention of Violent Extremism(PVE) in the Sahel and Nigeria towards institutionalizing nonviolence and peace education in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
WANEP in collaboration with the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflicts (GPPAC), developed a teaching curriculum to fight violent extremism in the affected countries to recognize education as a major critical development intervention for peace building and combating violent extremism.
In a message from WANEP at the Launch of the Project held at the Chartwell Hotel, and Suites, Bauchi on Tuesday, the Project Field Representative, Hajiya Amina Jibrin, said that the project was aimed towards complementing WANEP's efforts in grooming a new generation of resilient young people equipped and prepared to fight violent extremism in all its form in Nigeria.
"The project seeks to explore the use of school curriculum as a medium to inculcate in youths the attributes needed to resist radicalization and embrace a culture of peace in the society", she stated.
"In Nigeria, Bauchi state was selected for the PVE pilot phase with five schools selected to participate in the pilot phase of the project. And in order to achieve the objective of the project, several activities were proposed and have been implemented including Advocacy visits to relevant stakeholders to get their buy-in on the PVE project, and they have pledged their support for the PVE project" she said
Hajiya Amina emphasized that the PVE curriculum will be incorporated into existing disciplines and learning programmes in selected schools in the state and expressed optimism that at the end the project, there will be capacity for positive behavioural change by the pupils and students in the participating schools and by extension, other schools in Bauchi state.
In his goodwill message, a traditional ruler and Chiroman Bauchi represented by the Dan Iya Bauchi, Alhaji Suleiman Ahmad Bashir, called on every Nigerian to embrace peaceful coexistence and harmonious relationship among the various socio- cultural and ethno- religious entities across the country.
The Chiroman Bauchi who stressed the importance of peace in the society, called for peaceful resolutions of all issues on Nigeria's nationhood for the over all socio - economic and political growth and development of the country. NNL.
