Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme has completed a four-day capacity-building initiative in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

The training, delivered first to senior ministry leadership and then to journalists and editors from across the country, focused on equipping participants with the skills and strategies to communicate more effectively on complex livestock sector reforms.

A statement in Abuja stated that the partnership is expected to foster trust, inclusion, and peaceful coexistence between farming and pastoral communities.

In his opening remarks, Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, stressed the importance of the initiative, highlighting the need to master the art of communication that builds trust, fosters collaboration, and creates a peaceful environment.

“The plans, programmes, and activities of the ministry need to be communicated in a manner that ensures correct and adequate understanding of the objectives and rationale for our policies and interventions.

“This workshop is about mastering the art of communication that builds trust, fosters collaboration, and creates a peaceful environment for innovation and productivity in the livestock sector,” he stated.

Representing the UK Government, Conflict Adviser at FCDO, Pirmah Rimdans, commended the ministry’s commitment to the initiative.

“We agree wholeheartedly with the experts who say that pillar six on peacebuilding, security and social cohesion should be the bedrock and priority of this growth agenda. This workshop shows the ministry’s commitment to making that principle a reality, and we are proud to support it,” Rimdans stated.

Also speaking, Team Leader for SPRiNG, Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo, highlighted the crucial role of strategic communication in reform, underscoring the need to ensure that reforms are presented in ways that build understanding and reduce tension.

“Sometimes we set out to do good things, but without conflict-sensitive communication, even well-intentioned reforms can attract unexpected negative reactions leading to unintended consequences.

“This is why we are partnering with the Ministry to ensure that reforms are presented in ways that build understanding, reduce tension, and foster stakeholder ownership and involvement,” Ukiwo added.

Led by Prof. Umaru Pate, Dr. Arthur Martins Aginam, and Ms. Zigwai Ayuba, the sessions combined case studies, role-plays, and group action planning to produce concrete communication strategies.

Also, ministry officials developed institutional plans to integrate conflict sensitivity into their daily work, while journalists explored solutions journalism approaches to livestock sector coverage.

This initiative is part of SPRiNG’s ongoing mission to address the root causes of violent conflict in Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions through inclusive governance, strengthened institutions, and communication practices that unite rather than divide.

The SPRiNG Programme is a four-year initiative (2024-2028) funded by the UK FCDO and aims to enhance institutional capacity for conflict management and response, boost public confidence in key institutions, and create greater incentives for peace.

SPRING provides technical assistance to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to design and implement policies and practices to promote productivity and sustainable peace.

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