The European Union through an International Non-Governmental Organization, Search for Common Ground,(Search), has canvassed for youth involvement in decision-making to promote peace and prevent criminality in the Niger Delta region.

The Head of Office and Programme Implementation in Niger Delta, Yacinthe Agbadjagan, affirmed that the idea would improve collaborations between community leaders, decision-makers, security actors, youths, and other stakeholders in their various locations in the region which will undoubtedly, enthrone peace.

He said, the EU-funded project known as the community-centered approach to transforming criminality and violence in Niger Delta started in November 2023 and running till date.

He said the organisation had trained youth leaders on conflict transformation in Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa states respectively which was followed by a step-down training where some trainees were selected for a peer exchange workshop to share lessons learnt in their various communities to improve collaborations among themselves.

He stated this in Port Harcourt at the end of a three-day workshop on Peer Exchange for Youths and participation in decision-making organised by Search and its partners.

“We want to see the level of violence and criminality and kidnapping across the three states in the region reduced by this initiative, “he said.

“We plan for nine peer exchange workshops across three per state. Those who participated in the training are expected to take action in their various communities by participating in inter and intra-community dialogue between youth and adults about the peace-building initiative,” he said.

He assured that systems have been put in place to ensure the sustainability of the project even after its 18-month duration.

“We have a number of initiatives, one key component about this project is economic and livelihood initiative. In all the communities we are working, we think that if we offer some income generating activity, entrepreneurship activity, it will also help us to prevent violence and criminality around various communities.”

Some participants at the workshop described it as timely and valuable.

One of them, Chioma Favour from Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State said, “By the training, we have been able to know and understand that collaboration between youths and community leaders is one of the best tools that can happen in any community to enthrone peace.”