African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research (AJSSHR)

African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Volume 5 Issue 4 (Special Issue – Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) International Research of Peace and Civic Engagement Vol. 1)

Abstract

African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Volume 5 Issue 4 (Special Issue - Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) International Research of Peace and Civic Engagement Vol. 1)

Application of Practical Religion Education in Northern Nigeria: Panacea for Civic Engagement and Peace Building

Abstract

Religious extremism and fanatism are major contributions to violent activities and crisis in Nigeria. Borno State is one of most affected States due to the activities of Boko Haram insurgency. This paper is put together as a result of a three (3) days peace seminar conducted at the College of Education Waka – Biu Borno State on 29th to 31st January, 2020. College of Education Waka-Biu is one of eight (8) tertiary institutions in Borno State. It is located Biu, Southern senatorial District of Borno State. Biu is about one hundred and seventy two (172) kilometers from Maiduguri the Borno State capital. The major road that links Biu to Maiduguri is closed due to the activities of Boko Haram because the road passes through the “Sambisa” forest. The College of Education Waka-Biu was established in 1986. The college is a transformation of the then “Teachers College Waka-Biu” which was established by the Church of the Brethren Mission in 1957. The College of Education has a student population of about twelve thousand (12,000) with half Christians and half Muslims. The College has been peaceful without any record of religious intolerance. The tribes of the students and staff members are dominant Pabir, Bura, Margi, Kibaku, Gwoza, Kanakuru, Tera, Fulani, Hona, Kilba, Yungur, Michika, Lounguda Ga’anda etc. The College of Education is a major higher institution in southern Borno State and it is bothered by Adamawa, Gombe, Yobe and part of Taraba State. The school is liked by parents and students due to its peaceful historical record, conducive environment and its affordability. It will interest the readers to know that the tuition fee for Borno indigenes is only seven thousand (N 7, 000) and non-indigene is fifteen (N 15,000) and naira only per session (Academic Year), probably it is one of the cheapest advanced institutions in Nigeria. Biu is the only town in Nigeria that withstood and blocked Boko Haram from invading and extending to other towns from 2013-2014 when Boko Haram captured almost all parts of Borno, Yobe and parts of Adamawa States. The defence was enormous from the indigenes that sacrificed their lives to protect the town and secure a freedom of worship and education. Christians protected Muslims during prayers and Muslims did same for the Church. The cooperation and understanding was worth emulation for peaceful Nigeria. No wonder, the town is now blessed with Nigerian Army University which is a result of peace building and peaceful coexistence.

Promoting Peaceful Coexistence Among Students in Secondary Schools in Jalingo, Taraba State

Abstract

Taraba State is located in the north eastern part of Nigeria. It comprises diverse ethnicity such as Jukun, Mumuye, Kuteb, Jenjo, Lau-Karim. Bandawa, Panso, Kambo, Kaka, Tiv, Fulani and others. The Mumuye, Jenjo, Lau-Karim and Bandawa occupy the northern part of the state. They are mostly farmers and fishermen because of the terrain of the area. The Panso, Kambo, Kaka, Fulani live on the mountainous area which border Nigeria and Cameroun, popularly known as the ‘Mambila plateau’.The southern part is occupied by the Jukuns, kuteb,Ichem,Nymuo,Ngwa and others. The major religions in the state includes Christianity, Islam, African traditional religion and others. Because of the diversity of the tribes, their culture too differs. This makes life also interesting because of the beauty in diversity.

Fostering Peace and Harmony Through Community Dialogue: Yelwa Kagama

Abstract

The Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) fellowship program small peace project conducted was titled “Fostering Peace and Harmony through Community Dialogue.” The project was conducted in the Kagadama community of Bauchi Local Government of Bauchi State, Nigeria on Tuesday 2nd February, 2019 and started 9.00am in the morning. The venue for the community dialogue was Nafada Reception Centre, opposite ECWA Hausa Church, Kagadama. Yelwa Tudu Kagadama is located in the Dott district of Dass Local Government Area (LGA) of Bauchi State, Nigeria. The coordinate location of the community is 10º01’41.5”N, 09º32’58”E(Places in the World, 2015).The native of the Kagadama community are Jarawa by tribe with their history of settlement in the location stretching back as the period before the jihad of Shehu Dan Fodio.

Promoting Peaceful Coexistence Through Dialogue and Conflict Resolution

Abstract

Mwanatari is a community located between Lafiya and Lamurde in Lamurde LGA of Adamawa State. It lies on Latitude 9.560N and Longitude 11.70E, 164.00m/538.06ft ASL. The community shares boundary with Bwatiye (Bachama and Bata) communities. The ethnic groups found within the area are Mwana, Chobbo, Kwah, Waja, Lunguda, Dadiya, Jenjo, Hausa, and Fulani. The people of Mwanatari are predominantly agrarian. Lamurde is the administrative headquarters of the local government area and it is about 100 kilometers from Yola, the State capital. Like any other people Lamurde local government is noted for its unique cultural heritage. The Bachama people are noted warriors as is easily depicted in their popular dance “Wuro Kaduwe” closely related are the Homtu Gbatakaito at Gyawana which has to do with hunting, and the “Badan” at Nghakawo. They have the “kwete” wrestling festival in the town of Lamurde which comes up once in a year. It is a wrestling between the people of Gyawana and Lamurde. It is during the festival that His Royal Highness the Hama Bachama discloses his plans and vision to his subjects. Apart from Kwete wrestling festival, there is the “Poto” at Waduku, “Vayato” at Gyawana and Opalo. The Kwah “ Gikan” festival is celebrated yearly. The Waja celebrates “Saulawe” Chobbo “ Cito” and “Dikulem” “kreth” among the Lunguda and Dadiya respectively. Lamurde itself is a historical town where western civilization and tradition exist side by side. The Mwana people, according to history migrated from Cham in present day Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State. The people of Cham migrated from Yamel in the East with some tribes like Lunguda, Tula, and Dadiya at about 1777. They came to Africa through Egypt and settled at Wanda. As a result of unproductive agricultural land, bad climate and weather, the people of Cham being good agriculturalists decided to move from Wanda to a free and fertile land at Fitilai (Kuntur) in 1797. At Fitilai, Baba Dan Bulo, an informant said, “The people of Cham settled in groups according to their clans. In these small clans, there is a type of disperse, cross or integrated relationship which is shown by ties of reputed kingship, chieftaincy and religious complexities. The major clans among these settlements were Fitilai to Bwelimi, and Fitilai to Dijimi, out of which the following small clans emerged: Jabe, Bwelimi, Kwasim, Lebe, Dungurang and Tiksir. These clans believed in peace and have special love and care for one another and therefore regard themselves as brothers (Shete) plural of Chum, brother”.

Effective and Sincere Dialogue: Pathways to Violence Free Society

Abstract

Effective dialogue requires that all the participants have equal standing, that they listen with respect and empathy, and that ideas and assumptions are explored openly and without prejudice. Effective dialogue typically follows some basic ground rules: The focus is on common interests, not divisive ones. Maiduguri, also called Yerwa or Yerwa-Maiduguri, capital and largest city of Borno State, northeastern Nigeria. It is located along the seasonal Ngadda (Alo) River, the waters of which disappear in the firki (“black cotton”) swamps of Lake Chad, northeast of the city. Modern Maiduguri actually comprises the twin towns of Yerwa and Maiduguri. In 1907, Yerwa was founded on the site of the hamlet of Kalwa and was named by Shehu (“Sheikh” or “Sultan”) Bukar Garbai as the new traditional capital of the Kanuri people (replacing Kukawa, 80 miles [130 km] north-northeast of the former capital of the Bornu kingdom [see Kanem-Bornu]). Meanwhile, the market village of Maiduguri, just to the south, was selected by the British to replace nearby Mofoni (Maifoni, Mafoni) as their military headquarters and in 1908, they built a residency in what then became the capital of British Bornu. The combined city locally called Yerwa was divided into the urban district of Yerwa and the rural district of Maiduguri in 1957, but outside Borno both political units are now known simply as Maiduguri.

Peaceful Co-Existence Among Interfaith Youth in Kano State

Abstract

Peace is a state of tranquility, quiet and harmony absence of violence or a state free of oppressive and unpleasant thoughts and emotions. Peace also stands for harmony in personal relations etc. Co-existence is the state of two or more things existing together, usually in a temporal or special sense, with or without mutual interaction. Interfaith has to do with the involvement of members of different religions. For instance, the coming together of Christians and Muslims. Fagge Local Government is one of the local governments with the highest tax collections in Kano State particularly the Sabon Gari axis which is predominantly occupied non-indigenes. Like any other area or people, Fagge Local Government especially Sabon Gari area, is noted for its unique way of life and cultural heritage too. Most residents in those areas are business people and farmers etc.

Music for Peace

Abstract

Kano is an ancient commercial centre in Northern Nigeria. It is 2nd to Lagos in terms of commerce and industries. Kano metropolis comprises of 8 local government areas namely Dala, Fagge¸ Kano Municipal, Nassarawa, Tarauni, Gwale, Ungogo and Kumbotso local government areas.