Search for Common Ground has officially concluded the Nigerian Youth Collective Action for Religious Engagement (Youth CARE) Project with a close-out event that featured a knowledge-sharing session. The event showcased the project’s impact in promoting youth-led initiatives, fostering religious tolerance, and encouraging collective action for peace and social cohesion across communities.
In her welcome address, Gift Omoniwa, Director of Programs at Search for Common Ground, thanked community leaders, faith leaders, and partners for their unwavering support. She explained that the Youth CARE Project was designed as a youth-centered initiative, placing young people at the forefront of driving change in society.
Omoniwa highlighted that through partnerships with groups like the Young Leaders Network, the project built interfaith communities, empowered micro-influencers, and launched digital campaigns that reached hundreds of thousands with positive messages. These efforts, she noted, helped counter misinformation and promoted religious tolerance.
She further urged young people to sustain the gains achieved while calling on government and development partners to continue supporting youth empowerment and inclusive growth.
Presenting an overview of the project, Munira Askira, Program Manager of the Nigerian Youth CARE Project, explained that the initiative trained youth and over 50 youth-led organizations on digital tools, social media analysis, and peacebuilding strategies.
Askira added that the project organized conferences, workshops, and commemorative events which strengthened the role of young people in promoting peaceful coexistence. It also established advocacy groups, community peace committees, and platforms that gave both men and women a voice in decision-making.
She noted that innovative methods such as community theatre, sports, and youth-led campaigns were used to bridge divides, celebrate events like International Youth Day, and generate evidence-based reports through a Social Media Analysis Dashboard to support sustainable peace efforts.
Delivering the keynote address, Pastor Sunday K. Simon, who represented the Bauchi State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, commended Search for Common Ground and its partner, the Young Leaders Network, for their commitment to peace and interfaith dialogue.
Pastor Simon emphasized that peacebuilding should not be left only to imams and pastors but must actively involve youth and women, who play critical roles in strengthening community resilience. He stressed that sustainability remains the real test of such initiatives, urging communities and organizations to stay engaged even after donor funding ends.
He further pointed out that the program has reshaped perceptions around freedom of religion and belief, encouraged tolerance, and promoted cooperation. He called on leaders and community members to put aside selfish interests, embrace dialogue, and continue nurturing peace for future generations.
Also speaking, Seun Justin, Executive Director of the Young Leaders Network, said the partnership with Search for Common Ground went beyond a donor–recipient relationship. He explained that it fostered trust, transparency, and joint planning, which made the project impactful across Bauchi and other northern states.
The event also featured testimonies from beneficiaries. Veronica Akomodi, an influencer, said the Youth CARE Project empowered young people to use social media for peacebuilding, with 24 influencers creating over 646 posts in a year. She noted the courage shown in addressing sensitive issues like religion and emphasized that their online advocacy for peace will continue even after the project ends.
Doris Ali of the Bauchi Youth Advocacy Network (BYRAN) said capacity-building trainings gave them the boldness to engage communities, transforming their mindsets from division to love and unity. She noted that this shift made it easier to work with communities, and BYRAN has since made real impact while remaining committed to sustaining peace efforts.
Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the Human Rights Commission, Bauchi State Ministry of Justice, Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development, the Police Command, Nigeria Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and the Bauchi State House of Assembly, all commending the project’s success in promoting peace and unity.
The program concluded with the inauguration of peace and security committees in Yelwa and Gudum communities by Munira Askira. The committees were officially handed over to government agencies and partners, with a mandate to promote interfaith harmony, address interfaith-related crises, and strengthen early warning and response mechanisms in their communities.
PHOTO CREDIT: TRIPLE T
