Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
In a powerful display of purpose, the North East Youth Initiative for Development (NEYID), in collaboration with the Sokoto State Ministry for Religious Affairs, on Thursday, took a bold step toward tackling extremism, radicalization, and youth involvement in criminal gangs across the state.
Backed by the Office of the National Security Adviser, the partnership has successfully trained over 21,000 individuals in empowerment and skill acquisition to steer vulnerable youths away from extremist ideologies and crime.
The initiative, led by Dr. Dauda Mohammed Gombe, held a three-day sensitization workshop at Solcare Garden Hotel in Sokoto, drawing community leaders, religious figures, and young people from various backgrounds.
Dr. Gombe, in an emotionally charged address, painted a grim picture of how Youths, driven by poverty and lack of opportunities, are easily recruited by extremist groups such as Lakurawa and bandits, often with little or no tangible benefit in return.
“These youths are not born violent; they are abandoned, ignored, and then deceived,” Dr. Gombe stated. “We must give them a reason to hope, a reason to build, and a reason to choose peace and development.
“After the training, we provide them with a complete set of working tools, as in tailoring we provide a tailoring machine, Iron, and a set of tables and chairs as empowerment.
“In the past, we trained Social Media handlers, Hisbah, and Religious leaders on how to conduct sermons devoid of extremism.
The NEYIF’s success in working in North-East Nigeria to prevent and counter violent Extremism was the rationale behind its selection as the first national organization to receive funding from GCERF to implement in Sokoto.
“With an initial target of 19,423 direct beneficiaries and more than 116,538 indirect beneficiaries for the three (3) years, the project reached about 24,385 direct participants, comprising 17,244 males and 7,141 females, within the implementation period.”
In their testimonies, participants at the 3-day Sensitization commended organizers of the workshop for the wonderful initiatives.
In a goodwill message, the Sokoto state NUJ chairman, Usman Mohammed Binji, called on other states of the north to emulate Sokoto state by coming up with a similar workshop to shape the minds of youth in their state from radicalization and extremism.
Dr. Sani Labaran, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Religious Affairs, emphasized the timeliness of the workshop. “Sokoto and many other northern states are bleeding from the wounds of insecurity.”
“Our leaders of tomorrow, the youth, are being lost to drugs, gangs, and jihadist ideologies. This program is not just timely; it is urgent,” he declared.
He further said the Ministry for Religious Affairs would sustain the sensitization campaigns to combat the growing wave of extremism and restore peace and purpose among youths.
The collaborative initiative represents a holistic approach—empowering individuals with knowledge, practical skills, and moral guidance to combat the lure of extremism and reinforcing the role of religious and community leaders as agents of peace and transformation.
This effort stands as a beacon of hope and a blueprint for other states grappling with similar challenges, proving that empowerment, awareness, and unity are the strongest tools in defeating radicalization.
