Nasarawa State Government Set to Partner with Colombia in Fight Against Terrorism

n n

Gov Abdullahi Sule

n

The Nasarawa State Government says it is strengthening ties with the Colombian Government on peacebuilding to help prevent violent extremism in the state.

n

Gov. Abdullahi Sule stated this while hosting a Colombian delegation and officials of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) at the Government House in Lafia, the state capital.

n

The visit was part of a field mission aimed at sharing experience in reintegration, reconciliation and the inclusion of women in peacebuilding efforts across the state.

n

Receiving the delegation, Sule said Nasarawa was aware of the challenges Colombia had faced in the past and commended the country for overcoming them.

n

He said Nasarawa stood to benefit from Colombia’s experience and urged the visiting team to share lessons that would deepen peace efforts across the state.

n

Sule directed relevant ministries, departments and agencies to take part in a two-day workshop to cascade the knowledge gained, in line with a train-the-trainer approach proposed by the visiting team.

n

The Director, Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism at NCTC, Amb. Abimbola Wonosikou, said the field mission was part of Nigeria’s partnership with Colombia under the South-South Cooperation (SSC) initiative.

n

Wonosikou said Nasarawa was selected for the mission because of its unique security context.

n

The Colombian delegation leader, Mariana Hernández, said the team was in Nasarawa to share experience with and learn from participants at the workshop.

n

She described the exercise as part of the broader South-South Cooperation effort between Nigeria and Colombia.

n

Hernández commended Sule for approving the hosting of the workshop on women in leadership and as partners in peacebuilding.

n

She also said the workshop was designed to empower 80 women affected by various forms of violent extremism in the state.

n n