YLN, SFCG Trains Community Leaders on Common Ground Approach to Religious Engagement

By Abubakar Ahmed

A non-governmental organization, Young Leaders Network, with funding support from Search for Common Ground, organized a 2-day workshop on the Common Ground Approach to Religious Engagement for community leaders under the Nigerian Youth Collective Action for Religious Engagement, Youth CARE Project.

The training focuses on empowering participants with the knowledge and skills needed to advance interfaith dialogue and harmony as leaders in their communities and enhance their capabilities in imbibing good leadership practices and direction.

Noadiah Babas, Project Officer of Young Leaders Network’s Youth CARE Project, stated that the workshop brought together 30 participants, 15 from each of the two communities of Yelwa and Gudum. The Yelwa community comprised participants from Yelwan Tsakani, Kusu, Kagadama, and Lushi, while Gudum comprised participants from Gudum Fulani, Gudum Hausawa, and Gudum Sayawa.

Noadiah expressed hope that the workshop would help curb friction and religious conflict, ensuring continuous peace and progress. She emphasized that “The workshop is a significant initiative, aimed at empowering youth in Bauchi, Gombe, and Plateau states to advance religious harmony and Freedom of Religion or Belief amongst their communities, with one of the strategies being the engagement of traditional and religious leaders.”

Mr. Godiya James, a community leader in Gudum Sayawa, described the workshop as timely, stating, “I have learned the best approaches to adopt and adapt in promoting religious harmony, understanding, and peaceful coexistence among different religions within our communities.” He noted that he now better understands how to play his role as a leader and ensure everyone’s inclusion in peace-building efforts.

Alhaji Idris Danjuma, a community leader from Unguwar Bunu, thanked Young Leaders Network and Search for Common Ground, asserting, “If this kind of project is sustained, it will help us, particularly as community leaders, in having a deeper understanding of our roles in the peace-building process.” He promised to share the knowledge gained with his colleagues for wider effectiveness.

The 30 participating leaders were carefully selected from Yelwa and Gudum communities in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, where the Nigerian Youth CARE Project is being implemented.