The Federal Government, through its Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), has successfully trained selected local government areas in Benue State on early warning and disaster response techniques.
Established in 2022 under ECOWAS instruments and also known as the National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanisms, OSPRE is committed to cultivating a culture of preparedness and resilience across Nigeria’s institutions, communities, and public life.
At a recent event in Abuja, OSPRE Programme Manager Hafsah Matazu detailed the “Safety, Peace and Resilience in Communities” (SPARCS) training program, which aims to bolster capacities in early warning, emergency preparedness, and response, as well as gender security and data collection. Citing the words of OSPRE Director-General Chris Ngwodo, Matazu explained that the SPARCS workshop is an offshoot of the agency’s flagship peacebuilding initiative, the Concord Initiative.
Ngwodo stressed that the training reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to sustainable grassroots peace and aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s drive to strengthen local governance.
During the training, participants received comprehensive resources including manuals, computers, mobile phones, flashlights, whistles, and digital tools to aid in data gathering. The workshops were conducted in selected LGAs such as Oju and Vandeikya in Benue State, and similar sessions were held in Awka South and Idemili North in Anambra State. Attendees included representatives from local government secretariats, community vigilance groups, federal and state security agencies, as well as women and youth groups.
Dr. John Tsuwa, Director of the Centre for Peace and Development Studies at Benue State University, commended OSPRE’s comprehensive strategy in mobilizing key stakeholders to identify and address community challenges. Participants and partners at the event also expressed their support, urging further engagement to consolidate the program’s gains.
The SPARCS training is a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s ability to respond to conflicts and disasters at the grassroots level, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to sustainable peace and local development.
