Project Coordinator Commends EU, KASU, Others, As Zaman Tare Ends Public Lecture, Dissemination Of Research Findings

..Catholic church commended on peace building

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA– The Project Coordinator of Zaman Tare and Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, Barrister Cletus Aloke, has commended the European Union, EU, Students of Kaduna state University (KASU) and the selected communities for their contribution to the success of Zaman Tare programs.

He made this known on Thursday, at the end of the 6 – Day public lecture and Dissemination of Research findings by Kaduna students university( KASU) under the Zaman Tare scholarship at the university.

Describing the success of public lecture and dissemination of research findings by the students saying ” their presentations were marvellous, especially going by the fact that almost all of them who presented today went to different communities and the community members were here to actually corroborate what was presented by the scholars”

According to him, the idea of scholarship to the students to go into research has some elements of the way the project was designed so that ” it will fit into the learning process, how other students can make use of the research work in their learning adding that, it can aid policy makers in making laws or bring out programs especially, with the way the issue of peace is being handled in Kaduna state

” these documents can be studied by governments and with that they can know what kind of policies or programmes they can bring in place in order to address the peace challenges that is ongoing now” he stressed

Responding to the several calls by communities for the extension of the Zaman Tare’s mandate, saying ” what we have to say is that the European Union,( EU) has done well by given us this opportunity ; this is an opportunity for the government to take it running, because the ground has already been watered adding that ” but by the special Providence of God, if we see another grant, we can also extend it to other communities to benefit from”

He further said, they have made a low cost extension request from their sponsors to complete some activities ongoing which’ also is subject to overriding digression of EU’ . While calling government to take it further, noted that, even groups or companies under their corporate social responsibilities can do some thing further on this” he reiterated

One of the grant beneficiaries, a Msc student from the Dept of Political science,Elizabeth Daniel, whose research work on ” The Role of the Catholic church in ensuring peace and security in Nigeria; a case study of the Holy Family Catholic church, Barnawa” said her major findings showed that

” The Holy Family Catholic church is located in strategic area in Barnawa, and located in a Muslim dominated area and shares same road with a Mosque, adding that, her findings has further revealed that ” the Priests of the Holy Catholic Church do meet with the community leaders and traditional leaders for peace talks, seminars and other programs in order to foster peace and security in the community ” she stated

While recommending that the Holy Family Church Barnawa should extend such gesture and joy they have been enjoying over the years to other communities around them, such as the Sacred heart parish,Narayi, St Andrew’s Kakuri and St Paul’s Nasarawa, adding that ” the Holy Catholic church should continue with its humanitarian services to the communities ”

Similarly, a Msc Student of Political science Department, Kabiru Abubakar, who researched on ‘ An Assessment of the effect of Zaman Tare in building tolerance in Barnawa community of Kaduna south LGA of Kaduna state, 2019-2021’ said ” we found that the Zaman Tare program has significantly, promoted a high level of tolerance and understanding among the community leaders and members of the community

” we also found that before Zaman Tare came there was no understanding among community members in particular, but now there are series of radio programmes which has significantly helped in promoting tolerance, mutual understanding which promoted peaceful understanding in the community, adding that Zaman Tare programs has helped in shaping the thoughts of Religious, traditional leaders and community members, in the sense that they see themselves as one, sharing feelings, irrespective of faiths and cultures”

According to him, they found out limitation interms of the program broadcast, while recommending that the program should be extended to cover the print, television and social media among others,cutting across all segments of citizens in the state. He suggested the role of individuals in promoting the work of Z/Tare, because they eventually, form communities and play vital role in promoting tolerance and understanding among members of this multi ethnic communities ” he averred

In the same vein, Abubakar Nasir Umar,student of Political science Department, while speaking on” An Assessment of the effect of Zaman Tare project in building tolerance in Barakallahu community, Igabi LGA2019-2022″ said the role played by Zaman Tare in building tolerance in the Barakallahu community is promoting religious and culturally inclusive environment and they do so via educating the residents on the importance of living together

” they use to hold weekly meetings and there’s this radio program they use to educate and sensitize the people on the importance of tolerance in the community, we also discovered that Zaman Tare has addressed the problem of intolerance in Barakallahu to the extend that Muslims and Christians see themselves as one, they live in harmony. We discovered that the major challenge facing Barakallahu is lack of political will from the government, political interference and language barrier ”

While making recommendation that government and spirited individuals should support the efforts of Zaman Tare, the research called for more funding channeled into Zaman Tare programs for more communities to benefit,” Zaman Tare should continue to engage the services of religious, traditional, community leaders, media and academics and host of others ” he added

On his part, Pius Yohanna, MSc student of the political science Department, said his research ” An Assessment of the effect of Zaman Tare program in building tolerance in Mararaban- Rido, Chikun LGA of Kaduna state ‘ has been able to find that” Zaman Tare program is existing in the Mararaban- Rido community, adding that Zaman Tare program has indeed intensified economic activities in the community”

According to him, the findings also showed that traditional and religious leaders have played key roles in implementing Zaman Tare programs in the community of Mararaban-rido. While recommending that more funds be injected to sustain the program for sustainable peace and tolerance in the community, while recommending that traditional leaders be given the power to recruit security at the grassroot to checkmate those causing conflict in the community.

Similarly, Abdulrahaman Sani Makama, an Msc student of peace, conflict and strategic studies, Dept of political science, while making his presentation on ” An Assessment of the effect of Zaman Tare program in building tolerance in Mando community of Igabi LGA of Kaduna state’ said his findings showed that “:there’s mutual understanding, love, harmony and tolerance between the Christians and Muslims in Mando community

” to the extend that a Mosque and Church share the same wall respectively, without any dichotomy and I found that Zaman Tare project has helped in bringing about tolerance, unity and mutual understanding between the major predominant groups in the community, adding that the program has succeeded in averting conflicts and sensitized religious leaders on peace and tolerance, while discouraging the indigene settler dichotomy in Mando community .

While expressing his satisfaction, CAN chairman Malali, Badarawa and U/ Dosa ward, Pastor James Ayuba Alaku said the 6 – day presentation by the students has been ‘ ‘wonderful’ adding that ” Zaman Tare has so far opened doors for peace and tolerance in our communities, the 8 selected communities in the four LGA and the state at large, while commending the Zaman Tare team and students of KASU and participating communities.

Similarly, the Deputy Chief Imam of Malali Central Mosque, Imam Suleiman Jere, described it as ‘superb’ adding that Zaman Tare is a nice program that has captured amalgamated communities to live together, tolerate each other ” in fact Zaman Tare has come to sensitize and tell us that as we read our Holy books we should try and live it.