Boko Haram: ONSA, NSRP to mainstream counter extremists’ narratives to MDAs

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in its ongoing effort to defeat Boko Haram terrorists and other hate-peddling groups, is to mainstream countering violent extremism messages to the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

To this end, ONSA in collaboration with the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) is organising a two-day Capacity Building Workshop for the MDAs’ Strategic Communication Liaison Officers and some selected journalists.

The Manager, Strategic Partnerships, NSRP, Ms. Ere Amachree, in a release on Tuesday, said the workshop, which is themed ‘Mainstreaming Strategic Communication across Government for National Security’ is in fulfilment of the Strategic Communication Inter-agency Policy and Coordination Committee’s (SC/IPCC) Terms of Reference.

According to Amachree, the workshop is expected to strengthen the SC/IPCC in discharging its Terms of Reference.

She said the Strategic Communication Liaison Officers will also consider and adopt the SC/IPCC work plan during the event.

She also noted that “the workshop will examine how strategic communication can empower Ministries, Departments and Agencies to effectively counter extremists’ narratives; amplify positive messaging and synchronize interagency efforts.

“Experts at the Workshop will share insight and build capacity of participants on developing, monitoring and evaluating a communication plan at departmental levels”.

Amachree also said that the National Security Adviser Major Gen Babagana Mohammed Monguno (Rtd) and Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is expected to deliver the opening address and declare the workshop open.

NSRP is a five-year programme aimed at supporting state and non-state actors to manage conflicts non-violently in Nigeria and reduce the impact of violence on the most vulnerable population. NSRP is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and managed by a consortium led by the British Council.

The programme supports peace initiatives at the national level and in eight target states across four zones worse affected by violence (Middle Belt, Niger Delta, North East and North West). NSRP aims to reduce violent conflict through four inter-related areas of work – each taking place at Federal, State and LGA-levels namely: Security and Governance, Economics and Natural Resources, Women and Girls, and Research, Media and Advocacy.

By PRNigeria

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