By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Borno State Government through Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is currently holding a two-day meeting at the Freiz Continental Hotel in Abuja.
Today marks the final day of the meeting which commenced yesterday with a focus on advocacy for the adoption of the Community-Based Reconciliation and Reintegration (CBRR) Policy provided a platform for stakeholders to offer their inputs and recommendations on the policy document.
The State Commissioner of Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Zuwaira Gambo in her keynote address while declaring open the meeting emphasized on the significance of CBRR policy in addressing the reintegration needs of individuals affected by conflict .
She also highlighted on the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development commitment to foster peace and social cohesion in the state through structured and community-driven approaches.
The Member of Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Mohammed Ali Gajiram in his brief remark, expressed his support for the policy and underscored its potential to transform the lives of conflict-affected individuals.
A representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also made brief remark, affirming UNDP’s support to the CBRR Policy and its alignment with international standards and best practices in post-conflict recovery and reintegration machinery.
A senior lecturer with the Department of Law, UNIMAID, Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad Ahmad as a Resource Person, highlighted on the overall objectives of the CBRR Policy, outlining its aims which are targeted at facilitating the reintegration of individuals returning from conflict zones back into their communities.
He also elaborated extensively on the detailed and structured background, scope and structure of the policy document while emphasizing on the comprehensive nature of the proposed strategies to be adopted
Dr. Ahmad also spoke on the alignment of the CBRR Policy document with the existing legal framework, pointing out how the policy integrates with current laws and regulations to ensure seamless implementation and legal compliance.
However, representatives from various sectors shared their insights towards ensuring that the policy document is all inclusive and considers diverse perspectives.
Participants were further engaged in group work sessions or interactive sessions to discuss practical steps and collaborative efforts required to implement the CBRR Policy effectively to foster a sense of collective responsibility and commitment to the policy’s success.
While today, being the final day of the meeting, continues with further discussions and refinements of the policy document based on the stakeholder feedbacks and is expected to end or conclude with goodwill messages from Members of the House of Assembly, including Senior Technical Assistant to His Excellency, Dr. Nana Safia Zakama, UNDP Representatives and the State Agency for Coordination.
The messages are expected to reiterate the importance of the CBRR Policy and the shared vision of sustainable peace and development in Borno State as it is expected that the two-day meeting will mark a significant step towards adopting the CBRR Policy, reflecting a unified effort to rebuild and strengthen communities in Borno State.
