Jimgbe, The latest edition of the Open Governance Forum (OGF), broadcast on Prime FM 101.5, focused on the “Importance of Community Resilience in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism,” highlighting the crucial role of local communities in promoting peace and security.
Speaking on the program, Comrade Idris Miliki, Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), emphasized that community resilience is vital in the fight against violent extremism. He described resilience as the ability of community members to work together, adapt, and recover from challenges such as radicalization and insecurity.
“Violent extremism thrives where there is poverty, injustice, unemployment, and weak trust between citizens and authorities,” Miliki noted. He called for proactive measures that include inclusive dialogue, education, and community empowerment to address the root causes of extremism and foster lasting peace.
Comrade Miliki stressed the need to strengthen social cohesion and inclusive governance, urging communities to actively engage youth and women — groups he described as “frontline actors” in peacebuilding and early warning systems. According to him, equipping these groups through awareness programs, skills development, and leadership participation can significantly reduce the appeal of extremist ideologies.
On the issue of collaboration, he highlighted the importance of partnerships between communities, government agencies, and security forces to build trust and ensure timely information sharing. He also encouraged community leaders and religious figures to spread positive narratives and counteract hate speech and propaganda.
Discussing post-conflict recovery, Miliki advocated for psychosocial support, dialogue, and reintegration programs to help affected communities heal and rebuild trust.
In his closing remarks, Comrade Miliki urged all Nigerians to take ownership of peacebuilding, stressing that countering violent extremism is a shared responsibility. “Promoting peace, tolerance, and vigilance within our communities is essential. We must unite in awareness and cooperation to secure our future,” he concluded.
The program served as an eye-opener for listeners, reinforcing the message that strong, informed, and united communities are the foundation of lasting security.
