NEDC Begins Awareness On De-radicalization Of Extremists

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The North-East Development Commission (NEDC), in partnership with some media organisations, on Monday commenced an enlightenment programme on the promotion of peace, inter-religion dialogue and de-radicalization for peaceful coexistence among the residents of the region.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali Goni, who announced this, said that the Commission is reaching out to sensitize the public,particularly youths on the dangers of extremism and radicalization.

Goni said that efforts is being made to prevent “the most at-risk individuals from being radicalized and appeal to their conscience,” adding that the programmes would emphasize on moderation and peaceful co-existence in the society.

He said the Commission is increasing awareness on religious extremism and ways to recognize signs of extremism and skills to adequately identify its ills, adding that the NEDC is working to increase knowledge of and respect for peace and peaceful coexistence in the community.

According to Goni; “To engage selected youths towards de-radicalization to encourage radicalized individuals to disengage and provide psychosocial support for better livelihood”.

Goni also announced the donation of drugs and medical consumables worth millions of Naira to the Bauchi State Government to support it in responding to the Cholera Outbreak in the State.

The 20,000 cartons of assorted drugs and medical consumables were provided on a needs basis to bridge the gap in the State’s cholera outbreak response to curb mortality and spread of the disease.

Presenting the items to the Bauchi State Government, Alkali Goni said that there is also need to focus more on long term prevention measures such as ensuring clean water and hygiene measures for communities to prevent widespread future outbreaks.

Similarly, Goni said that the Commission has so far graduated 580 beneficiaries from its ICT Training Program in Bauchi state for Batches A, B, and C.

In the words of Goni; “In line with the NEDC’s strategic plan to improve access to Information Technology in the North East, the Commission went ahead to establish ICT resource training centers in each of the six states of the North East, hosted in tertiary institutions in the states.

“The overall objective is to improve access to ICT resources within the region and equip the teeming youths including those out-of-school across the region with the necessary vocational and educational skills, and tools that can make them self-reliant’.

“It is highly intensive hands-on programme that takes the selected participants through specialized training in Graphic Design and Smart Phone Repairs, including basic entrepreneurship development, computer appreciation and bookkeeping for small businesses,” Gon said.