As part of the #EnGAGE Project, Bege Foundation organized an intra-dialogue session with the wives of farmers in Daffo District, Bokkos LGA, Plateau State on June 12th, 2023. The objective of this session was to tackle the underlying and immediate causes of violence by collaborating with the women to gain insight into conflicts from their point of view, and to assist them in devising inclusive, community-based solutions.
The YES club, supported by Peace Direct through LEGASI, embarked on a passionate two phase advocacy campaign from May 29th to June 2nd, 2023 and through the month of June to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (World Drug Day). Though the international theme, "People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention", YES Club engaged with key authorities and stakeholders, aiming to shape the future through profound conversations around a local theme - Drug Ends All Dreams (D.E.A.D).
During their visits, the YES club team met with the Natioanl Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Zaria Command, Sarkin Samaru, Nigerian Police Force (NPF) Samaru Division, Sarkin Yarbawa Samaru Zaria, Mai Anguwan New Extension and Mai Anguwan Anguwan Gwaiba. These meetings centered around the Drug Ends All Dreams (D.E.A.D) project, a peacebuilding initiative to combat drug abuse, which emerged from the larger EnGAGE project funded by Peace Direct through LEGASI.
Recounting the achievements from the P4P project interventions, displaced individuals had begun returning to their homes, facilitated by an enhanced synergy between the communities in conflict in Atyap Chiefdom where a peace pact was signed on June 6th, 2022 between the Atyaps, Hausas and Fulanis. This transformation brought about a remarkable shift towards peace and tranquility, exemplified by the harmonious coexistence observed within and between these communities.
However, since March 2023, the intervention has faced unexpected setbacks, marked by devastating attacks in Angwan Wakili, Mabushi, Ataknje and other neighboring communities. Lives have been lost, and properties reduced to ruins, casting a shadow of uncertainty on the progress made thus far. Undeterred by these challenges, LEGASI remains resolute in its mission to establish an interactive dialogue platform, bolstered by comprehensive training packages. The ultimate aim is to effect lasting conflict transformation and prevent any further deterioration of the delicate situation.
On the 6th of June 2023, The LEGASI team received a warm welcome by the 30 women from mostly Hausa and Adara tribes in Kasuwan Magani who were beneficiaries from the Partnership for Peace (P4P) project. Stepping into their midst felt like entering a world where Hausa and Adara traditions had teamed up with laughter and sisterhood. The women then shared touching stories of their experiences before and after receiving support. Many of them had faced the loss of loved ones—their husbands, and sources of income, and their circumstances were similar. One of the courageous women, Hafsat Musa, broke down in tears as she recounted the tragic story of losing her husband. He had been killed in the farm on a Friday, a week after the crisis that had severely affected their community.
The Engaging Grassroot Actors for Growth and Empowerment (EnGAGE) project took off in the first quarter of 2023. A phase two from the Partnership for Peace (P4P) Project under the Local Action Fund (LAF) funded by Peace Direct which ran for 18 months (July 2021 - Dec. 2022).
We intend to deepen the gains of P4P project by adopting a new strategy of initiating an all-inclusive broad based conflict resolution platform and building of bridges along segregated, discriminated and unequal communities in Plateau and Kaduna states through awareness, confidence building initiatives, media platforms, dialogue and entrepreneurship programs. This will lead to an increased level of trust and understanding between Christians and Muslims, pastoralists and farmers, native indigenes and settlers, transit and host communities, women and the youth in Kaduna and Plateau states.
Presently, we are working with five (5) sub-grantees (our partners) as we call them across Kaduna and Plateau state within communities which are characterized as deeply divided on major issues and are vigorously and/or violently contested along the lines of complex ethnic, religious and political variables. By virtue of these complex web of existential challenges and seemingly intractable conflicts and instability, Kaduna and Plateau state can be rightly described as the most deeply divided states in Nigeria. In these states millions of people suffer from discrimination, segregation, inequality leading to diverse forms of polarization. This not only violates basic human rights, but has a wider social and economic consequence which perpetuate poverty, inequality and the lack of peace while worsening social tensions.
Girl Child and Women Empowerment
Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution
Early Warning/Early Response (EWER) Systems
Women, Peace and Security (WPS)
Countering and Preventing Violent Extremism
Entrepreneurship and Skills Development
Ladies in Information Communications Technology
Education Scholarship Support
Food Supply/Health Care/Fundraising
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