Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAIPKC), Maj.-Gen. Ademola Adedoja, said the centre was committed to enhancing the safety of civilians caught in armed conflicts through the training of peacekeepers.
He stated this at Abuja‘s Comprehensive Protection of Civilians Course 36/2024 inauguration.
He said the inauguration represented an essential step forward in a collective effort to ensure peacekeepers‘ proactiveness in protecting civilians in conflict zones.
He added that the course also demonstrated the commitment of international partners to support MLAILPKC in delivering quality and realistic training to potential peacekeepers.
According to him, the course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to perform Comprehensive Protection of Civilian functions in an integrated peace operations environment.
„This course will also provide participants with the expertise and strategies to protect civilians in conflict zones. It will also serve as a measure to win the hearts and minds of the local indigene in conflict and post-conflict environments, among others.
„The MLAILPKC, in conjunction with other collaborations, are showcasing the profound truth that protecting and promoting human rights is a collective endeavour that transcends government and institutional responsibilities,“ he said.
The commandant also said that the course was aligned with the UN training standards and qualified participants to be deployed in integrated peacekeeping operations such as UN, AU and ECOWAS missions.
“I want to assure you that the centre has erudite facilitators with world-class experiences and capable instructors who will impact the required knowledge on you.
“Our facilitators are renowned experts in their fields, with a deep understanding of the complex peacekeeping challenges we face,“ he added.
The team lead of the Governance, Peace and Security Unit, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr Matthew Alao, called on peacekeepers and security personnel to ensure adequate protection of civilians and humanitarian workers during violent conflicts to minimise casualties.
Alao, represented by Oluwatosin Richard Olugunla, noted that civilians often bear the brunt of hostilities and uncertainties in conflict zones worldwide, adding that there was the need to ensure their safety, uphold their rights and safeguard their dignity.
He said the course was designed to arm the participants with the tools and strategies necessary to navigate the complexities of protecting civilians in armed conflict.
In his remarks, the chief of Training (Army), Maj.-Gen. Sani Mohammed, said that MLAILPKC‘s mandate was to deliver realistic training support to leaders and critical stakeholders on the multidimensional challenges of contemporary peace support operations.
Mohammed, represented by Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Abai said the collaboration between the centre and UNDP started in 2016 per that mandate.
He said the collaboration aimed to foster stability, security and sustainable developments in conflict-affected regions.
According to him, it is also designed to enhance peace-building efforts by working together and leveraging expertise and resources to support conflict prevention, peace-building and post-conflict recovery efforts effectively.
“Over the years, the collaboration has yielded positive results in the sponsorship of courses. This aims to enhance the skills and capabilities of military, para-military and other relevant stakeholders in Nigeria and around the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
“In 2023, four courses were conducted in collaboration with UNDP and the Government of Japan. These include the Anti-Piracy Course series, the Comprehensive Protection of Civilians Course, and the Countering Violence Extremism Course.
“Today, we are here to inaugurate the Comprehensive Protection of Civilians Course in furtherance of the active, progressive and effective collaboration between MLAILPKC and UNDP/Government of Japan,‘‘ he said.