Mercy Corps, an NGO funded by the European Union, has urged communities across Katsina State to take greater ownership of development and peacebuilding initiatives.
The organization’s State Senior Program Manager, Mr Philip Ilita, made the call on Monday at a workshop organized to sensitize community stakeholders on development and social responsibility.
The workshop, coordinated by Ms Lynda Emanuel, focused on promoting positive behavioral change, peaceful coexistence and stronger community participation in addressing local challenges.
Ilita urged participants to identify problems affecting their communities, develop practical solutions and translate their plans into concrete action.
He said sustainable development could not succeed without active participation and commitment from community members.
“Meaningful changes can only be achieved when community members are actively involved,” he said.
According to him, local residents understand the challenges confronting their communities better and are therefore well positioned to develop solutions that reflect their specific needs.
Ilita urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the workshop to improve the social and security conditions in their communities.
He also called for stronger efforts to tackle drug abuse and farmer-herder conflicts, describing them as major threats to peace, development and social cohesion.
The program manager stressed the importance of inclusive dialogue in resolving conflicts, urging stakeholders to give all parties opportunities to participate in discussions.
He said involving conflicting parties and other relevant stakeholders would build trust, promote understanding and increase the chances of achieving lasting solutions.
A participant from Faskari Local Government Area, Mr Ayodele Babadiya, also called for broader stakeholder participation in resolving community challenges.
Babadiya said communities were best placed to identify the individuals and groups whose involvement could make dialogue and conflict-resolution efforts more effective.
He said greater grassroots participation would make interventions more relevant and improve their acceptance within communities.
Similarly, Mr Gambo Ibrahim from Safana Local Government Area commended Mercy Corps for its continued training and support programs aimed at strengthening community capacity.
Ibrahim said the interventions had equipped participants with skills to address insecurity, banditry and other challenges through dialogue, collaboration and community-led initiatives.
He said the knowledge acquired had enabled participants to make more meaningful contributions to solving problems in their communities.
Ibrahim expressed optimism that sustained collaboration among Mercy Corps, community stakeholders and other relevant actors would strengthen peace, development and social responsibility across Katsina State.
He appealed for continued support for community-based initiatives, stressing that empowering local stakeholders remained critical to achieving lasting positive change.
