"Building Peaceful Coexistence: Search for Common Ground Partners with Bauchi Stakeholders"

By Khalid Idris Doya

Bauchi, June 21, 2025– In a bid to promote peace, religious freedom, and community resilience, Search for Common Ground has partnered with stakeholders in Bauchi State. The initiative seeks to foster harmonious coexistence among individuals and advance youth inclusiveness in policy solutions.

At a stakeholders' meeting, Bauchi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Galadima, lauded Search for Common Ground for its efforts to promote peaceful coexistence. "If such designed programmes of putting people to understand themselves, especially in advancing youth inclusiveness in policy solutions, the designed objective can be achieved," he said.

Galadima noted that his ministry has been collaborating with non-governmental organizations, including Search for Common Ground. However, he advised the NGO to expand its programs to address economic values, as most violence is economically driven. "Once the economic problems are tackled, I'm sure the religious aspects of some of the violence would have been nipped in the bud," he added.

Hon. Garba Lawal, a member of the Bauchi House of Assembly, described the meeting as impressive, highlighting its potential to enlighten youths on shunning conflict and violence. "The legislature is willingly ready to pass any law that would be useful to any community, especially citizens of Bauchi state, that would promote peaceful co-existence among the various segments of the society," he said.

Munira Askira, Project Manager with Search for Common Ground, explained that the organization is working with three states, including Bauchi, to advance freedom of religion or belief. "Our project aims to promote peace, policy formulation, and address issues of conflict and tension affecting religion and peaceful co-existence," she said, highlighting the project's objectives.

The project works with micro-influencers and community stewards to provide alternative peaceful resolutions to issues of hate speech and misinformation on social media platforms. By making youths well-informed and participatory online, the partnership seeks to influence policies and strengthen partnerships among government, civil society, traditional/religious leaders, and community groups.