CDD Organize 2-Days Workshop on Transitional Justice for Stakeholders in Borno

By Rukaiyatu Idris

Center for Democracy and Development had, On Tuesday, January 24th, 2023, organized a two-day capacity-building workshop on transitional justice for media practitioners, traditional rulers, and religious leaders in Borno state. 

The event occurred at Dujima International Hotel Maiduguri, with the theme  ‘ Public Enlightenment Narrative on Transitional Justice System in Borno State.’

Program Officer, Center for Democracy and Development Steve Amuda, outlined the workshop’s objectives as a fundamental strategy towards achieving transitional justice in the conflict-affected areas in the northeast region.

“The workshop aims to build the capacity of key stakeholders on public enlightenment narrative on transitional justice, review of the CDD’s Sulhu Alheri Ne manual and to identify existing gaps on CDD’s sponsored radio programs, the way forward and to incorporate new areas that will impact on community sensitization.” He said. 

Senior Research Fellow CDD Prof. Mala Mustapha, who facilitated the workshop, expounded extensively on the roles of traditional/religious leaders and media practitioners in the transitional justice system, which he described as a hierarchy role.

“Without the support of these key stakeholders, we wouldn’t have come this far in achieving our basic objectives of restoring peaceful coexistence among our communities in the Northeast.”

“The gatekeeping job of the media practitioners starts from obtaining peaceful messages from all religious faiths to disseminating the information among people in the society.” He explained.

Participants, on their part, expressed gratitude to CDD for prioritizing peace and building their capacity on transitional justice, describing the gesture as worthy of emulation by other organizations.

A media practitioner, Abba Masta, said, “I have attended many workshops organized by CDD, but this one on transitional justice is among the ones whose impact cannot be overemphasized because I have gained more knowledge towards identifying new ways to spread peace among people within and outside my community.” He said.

Leader of the Christian Council Association of Nigeria, Borno State Chapter, Rev. Adamu Bitrus Bichi, said, “We appreciate CDD’s effort on restoring peace among our people.”

“As a religious leader, I will utilize the new knowledge to give my people a clearer view and importance of forgiveness and tolerance for us to achieve the harmony we want as a society.” He explained.

Community leader, Mala Mohammed Usman, said, “Providing the Sulhu Alkhairi Ne manual in the Arabic language has allowed me to study the manual’s content, which equipped me to pass down the knowledge to my people.”