COMITAS Project Concludes with Knowledge Sharing, Peace Structure Handover in Adamawa State
Ojoma Yusuf,Yola
Fintiri Pledges Continued Commitment to Peacebuilding in Adamawa
The COMITAS Project, implemented by Search for Common Ground (SFCG) with support from the European Union (EU), officially concluded with a knowledge-sharing and handover ceremony of its peace structures to the Adamawa State Government.
The two-year initiative, which operated across Adamawa and Taraba states, established various peacebuilding structures and trained multiple groups, including Community Response Networks (CRN), Community Security Architecture Dialogues (CSAD), Peace Architecture Dialogues (PAD), the Taraba Forum for Farmers and Herders Relations (TAFFAHR), and the Adamawa Forum for Farmers and Herders (AFFAHR).
The project also engaged government agencies and civil society organizations (CSOs) in its efforts to foster peace and conflict resolution.
Speaking at the event, SFCG’s Head of Program Implementation for the Middle Belt, Godwin Okoko, warmly welcomed all partners, commending their relentless efforts toward the project’s success.
Country Director Hajiya Fatima Abubakar echoed these sentiments, expressing gratitude to stakeholders and the Adamawa State Government for their unwavering support, which she credited as pivotal to the project’s achievements.
Highlighting the impact of the project, Abubakar stated that COMITAS reached 32 communities across nine local government areas (LGAs), including Girei, Lamurde, Guyuk, Shelleng, Zing, Lau, Numan, Demsa, and Mayo-Belwa.
She noted that the initiative improved perspectives on dialogue and peaceful coexistence while strengthening conflict resolution mechanisms and reducing violence through dialogue sessions.
Abubakar also acknowledged the collaboration of traditional leaders and other stakeholders in achieving the project’s goals, particularly in addressing resource management and mitigating conflicts between farmers and herders.
Representing Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the Chief of Staff, Chief Amos Edgar, lauded SFCG, its partners, and the EU for initiating and implementing the COMITAS Project.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to sustaining peace and maintaining the successes achieved under the initiative.
“Our government prioritizes peacebuilding,” Edgar remarked. “We will protect the structures established by SFCG and create a dedicated Peace Commission to ensure the sustainability of these efforts.” He also commended SFCG’s innovative approaches to mitigating the farmer-herder crisis in Adamawa State.
COMITAS Project Manager Gambo Wada expressed gratitude to all partners and stakeholders for their contributions to the project’s successful completion. He extended special appreciation to the Adamawa State Government for its support and receptiveness to the initiative.
As the COMITAS Project concludes, its legacy of strengthened peace structures, improved dialogue, and collaborative conflict resolution mechanisms will serve as a foundation for continued peacebuilding in Adamawa and Taraba states.
