CIPP Launches Skill Acquisition Center In Kogi State

Community Initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP), has launched a skill acquisition centre in Lokoja, Kogi state capital to better the fortunes of the indigenes.

Speaking at the launching event in Lokoja on recently, Programmes Director, Victoria Bedford, said CIPP is providing 26 automatic and manual Lion Sewing machines to equip the Peace Makers Cooperative Center, Lokoja.

She stated that CIPP’s ‘Profit for Peace’ initiative has facilitated effective collaboration for peace among government, development actors, the private sector, and communities as one of the critical approaches necessary for building economic development conducive to sustaining peace.

Bedford explained that the skill acquisition centre will enhance the ability of cooperative members to train other youth from their communities to acquire similar skills, thus reducing the number of youths who are idle and vulnerable to violence and extremism.

“The Profit for Peace initiative has successfully established a Private Sector Peace Club in Kano State, where the community structures contribute to peace processes through early warning and early response mechanisms to avert violence and conflict while driving economic development.

“In Kogi State, this initiative has seen the linkage of 26 members of CIPP women and youth structures to the private sector, where they have been empowered with livelihood skill acquisition to enable them to pilot their economic advancement and allow them to mobilize resources to contribute to or lead peace-building activities in their communities.

“In support of the establishment of the Peace Makers Cooperative and completion of the six-month skills training from CIPP private sector partner, TEA Concepts, CIPP is providing 26 automatic and manual Lion Sewing machines to equip the Peace Makers Cooperative Center, Lokoja, Kogi State,” she said.

The Programs Director said the Center will also serve as a safe space for the peace ambassadors to continue peace-building initiatives after the CIPP project closes.

CIPP is a five-year USAID-funded program implemented by Mercy Corps in partnership with Pastoral Resolve (PARE), Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCCD), African Radio Drama Association (ARDA) and Social Justice and Human Development for Peace Initiative (JDPC).

The program has empowered communities to prevent and respond to violence by strengthening critical skills and relationships and provided interventions to foster enabling environment for peace through policy advocacy, media outreach, and linkages to development programs.

In Kogi State, CIPP interventions have been carried out in 16 communities across four local government areas: Lokoja, Kabba, Igala Mela, and Yagba West.

As CIPP is closing out, several sustainability interventions to be implemented will address the linkage and sustainability needs at the Community, Local Government, Area, and State levels.