By Victor Bieni, Asaba
Center For Peace And Environmental Justice, (CEPEJ), a leading Non-governmental Organization in Nigeria led by its National Coordinator, Comrade Chief Sheriff Mulade has said that the group embarked on a two-day working visit to the North West of Nigeria, Kano State in particular, with a view to partnering and collaborating with similar organisations so as to assist the Federal and State Governments to proffer solutions to the rising spate of insecurity, banditary, kidnapping and other vices confronting the country at present.
Comrade Chief Mulade Sheriff disclosed this to newsmen in Asaba, Delta State capital during a press briefing he organized to address the impact of global partnership with Civil Society Organizations on mitigating insecurity in Nigeria.
He stated that, as Part of his organization’s concern towards the promotion, and use of this SDGs in solving the problems of Insecurity and maintaining peaceful co-existence amongst Nigerians, that CEPEJ recently paid a familiarization/courtesy visit to some CSOs leaders in the North-West of Nigeria, Kano State for organizations working in SDGs thematic areas such as Peace-Building, Peace and Security to discuss and seek collaboration with the NGOs in Kano State on how to promote peace through Early Warning System.
CEPEJ Boss commended the Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) in Kano State, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirillah welcoming the CEPEJ team. According to CEPEJ Boss, Comrade Chief Sheriff Mulade,” Collaboration is the key to success towards providing Solution to Nigeria’s Insecurity.
He quoted CHRICED Boss when the Kano State based CSO Leader received CEPEJ’s delegation that, ” Hosting of the CEPEJ Boss was a great opportunity for us NGO to share knowledge and experiences on how to tackle insecurity, build peace, and educate the youths on the need for them to shun violence in their communities, and embrace the spirit of peaceful coexistence”.
“The Resource Center for Human Rights and Civic Education which is regarded as an organization of active citizens, started in Lagos, and now in Kano, with an Office in Abuja. He said CHRICED also networks and engages in so many activities”.
“We are currently working on a project titled Social Mobilization for Transparency and Accountability in Maternal Health, and Resource Budgeting in Kano State; it promotes democratic participation in Kano State, fosters transparency and accountability in constituency project delivery in Kano State, as well as promotes human rights and civic education among Kano people”.
“As the CHRICED Executive Director, I want to use this medium to Commend CEPEJ for its activities and programmes. I use this medium as well to invite CEPEJ National Coordinator to attend the 15th anniversary of CHRICED coming up later this year”.
According to the National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff during the visit to CHRICED Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirilla, the renowned Niger- Delta Activist, Comrade Sheriff Mulade stated that, CEPEJ as NGO focuses on five (5) thematic areas – peace building, good governance, fundamental human rights, justice, as well as environmental sustainability, and uses conferences, seminars, rallies, symposia, workshops, town hall meetings or people’s parliaments, as well as educational research as advocacy strategies.
In his words: “CEPEJ is committed to community development and other humanitarian activities, and works with Government, parastatals, professionals, other NGOs and stakeholders at both national and international levels”.
“The CEPEJ Boss also revealed that the NGO had organized national conferences in Nigeria and other countries in Africa, mobilized experts on peacebuilding, human rights, environment and security to speak as resource persons. He cited the conference held at the Koffi Annan International Peacekeepig Training Centre, Accra, Ghana as an example”.
“The ceremony featured the exchange of pleasantries and a group photograph between the CEPEJ and CHRICED teams”.