Association Holds Training Workshops, Community Dialogues On Peace, Resilience In Maiduguri

By; SÀDIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri

The U.S. Government Exchange Alumni Association (USGEAA), Borno State Chapter, a humanitarian organization, has completed a transformative and reconciliatory project on promotion of peace and strengthening resilience among people and displayed families in Bulabulin Ngarannam community including returnees IDPs and refugees in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) of Borno State.

The Borno State Coordinator of USGEAA, Alhaji Mustapha Shettima in a statement issued and signed by Fatima Yerima Askira and Hassan Moisule, made available to newsmen in Maiduguri Sunday, disclosed this

The statement said the implementation which was done in partnership with USGEAA, and CSOs, CRSD and BOWDI community based organizations towards building peace and strengthening resilience aimed at rising hope to foster peace and resilience in Bulabulin Ngarannam community, area of Maiduguri metropolis.

According to the statement , the project was under the U.S. Nigeria Alumni Engagement Grant 2025 groundbreaking initiative completed its activities on July 5, leaving behind a legacy of peace, unity, empowerment as well as renewed hope for the members of the community.

The three-month project, which ran from May to July 2025, brought together traditional leaders, religious figures, women, youth, and returnees IDPs in Bulabulin Ngarannam, a community grappling with the aftermath of Boko Haram insurgency and flood disaster displacement.

It also added that through advocacy visits, capacity building workshops, community dialogue sessions, and youth mentorship programs aimed at reducing tensions, promoting mutual understanding, and paving ways for peace, reconciliation and peaceful co-existence were adopted and introduced.

The statement said the project kicked stated with an advocacy visit to the Ministry of Women Affairs in Maiduguri and a community engagement session at the Palace of the Village Head of Bulabulin Ngarannam on May 21, 2025 which marked the beginning of a collaborative effort to bridge divides and rebuild trust within the community.

A total of 50 participants, representing diverse groups including traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, youth, and returnees IDPs were selected to champion the cause.

While a pivotal two-day capacity building workshop was held on June 11–12, where 25 community stakeholders were trained in conflict dynamics, mediation, negotiation, and inclusive decision-making using interactive methods like role-play and group exercises to enable these leaders gain the tools needed to mediate disputes and foster social cohesion.

The training workshop laid the foundation for structured dialogue sessions that the participants to address long standing grievances and collaboratively identified solutions.

And between June 18 and July 1, four community dialogue sessions brought together 30 members each from the host community and returnee IDPs. The sessions tackled critical issues such as sexual abuse and exploitation, lack of school attendance by returnee children, reintegration of repentant insurgents, and youth unemployment.

The dialogues not only facilitated open communication but also led to tangible outcomes, including the reinstatement of nighttime in the community.