Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace Fostering Farmers and Pastoralists Dialogue in Nigeria
The Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) initiated this project to respond to the increasing clashes between farmers and pastoralists in wetland areas of the Middle Belt, North Central, and Southern Nigeria. The Project’s specific objective is to increase farmers and pastoralist engagement in peacebuilding and improve attitudes and perceptions towards peaceful coexistence, mutual trust, and confidence-building.
The key activities include;
Consultation and identification of target participants
Conference on farmers and pastoralist dialogue
The media dialogue on farmers and pastoralist dialogue.
Production of road-map/communiqué for peace for farmers and pastoralists.
Progress Report:
A mini-conference of crop and livestock farmers on dialogue for peace in Nigeria was held on 22nd December, 2018 in Kaduna. The conference invited critical stakeholders and equipping them to engage each other to work on a joint initiative for peace in Nigeria.
Assoc. Prof Usman Mohammed of the Kaduna State University summarized his presentation and said what we need is a policy to address the conflict. The second paper was presented by the National President, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on the way forward on crop and livestock farmers’ conflict in Nigeria: The speaker highlighted key issues on; fighting criminality, insincerity on the part of the security agencies, excesses on the part of the vigilante groups who engage in jungle justice, delay in prosecuting those apprehended etc. A conference communiqué was produced and shared widely with the media and public.
The project’s media dialogue airs on DITV/Alheri and Nagarta radio for both the English and Hausa audience to sensitize the general public on the resolution reached at the conference on crop and livestock farmer’s conference and other matters arising from the conflict. The broadcast began on 31st of December, 2018.
- The media dialogue is tagged “NATIONAL AGENDA” & “ZARE DA ABAWA”
- Both Ditv/Alheri and Nagarta radio will be airing 8 episodes each in Hausa and English beginning from December until February 2019.
This project is led by Imam Sani Isa and supported by IDFP.
