The Nasarawa State Government is deepening its partnership with Colombia to strengthen peacebuilding efforts and prevent violent extremism across the state. Governor Abdullahi Sule disclosed this while receiving a Colombian delegation and officials of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, NCTC, at the Government House in Lafia. The visit formed part of a field mission focused on sharing experiences in reintegration, reconciliation and the participation of women in peacebuilding.
Receiving the delegation, Sule acknowledged the security challenges Colombia had faced in the past and commended the country for making progress in overcoming them. The governor said Nasarawa could draw valuable lessons from Colombia’s experience, particularly in developing approaches to peacebuilding and preventing violent extremism.
He urged members of the visiting delegation to share practical experiences that could strengthen existing peace initiatives in the state. Sule also directed relevant ministries, departments and agencies to participate in a two-day workshop organised as part of the visit.
The workshop would adopt a train-the-trainer approach, allowing participants to transfer knowledge gained from the programme to other stakeholders across the state. The governor’s position reinforces the importance of the Nasarawa Colombia partnership in developing locally relevant approaches to peace and security.
The Director of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism at the NCTC, Ambassador Abimbola Wonosikou, said the field mission was organised under Nigeria’s partnership with Colombia through the South-South Cooperation, SSC, initiative.
Wonosikou explained that Nasarawa was selected because of its unique security circumstances and the need to strengthen preventive approaches to violent extremism. She said the engagement would provide an opportunity for Nigerian and Colombian stakeholders to exchange experiences and identify strategies that could be adapted to the local environment.
The leader of the Colombian delegation, Mariana Hernández, said the team was in Nasarawa both to share its experiences and learn from participants during the workshop. Hernández described the engagement as part of the wider South-South Cooperation framework between Nigeria and Colombia. She commended Governor Sule for approving the workshop, particularly its focus on women as leaders and partners in peacebuilding.
According to her, women have an important role to play in strengthening community resilience and preventing violent extremism. She disclosed that the workshop was designed to empower 80 women affected by various forms of violent extremism in Nasarawa State.
The initiative is expected to strengthen their participation in peacebuilding and improve their capacity to contribute to stability within their communities. The Nasarawa Colombia partnership therefore represents an effort to combine international experience with local knowledge in addressing the state’s peace and security challenges.
