Exclusion, Inequality, Deepening Conflict, Insecurity in Nigeria, Says AUSS-NG

The African Universities Seminar Series-Nigeria (AUSS-NG) has urged Nigeria to rebuild its citizenship model with a focus on inclusion, equality, participation, and social justice. The scholars warned that ongoing structural inequalities and exclusion are exacerbating conflict and insecurity throughout the nation.

At the end of the second AUSS-NG conference, the scholars called for a shift away from mere commemoration of past conflicts towards a reparative memory that recognizes historical wrongs, restores victims' dignity, and helps deter future violence. Hosted by the University of Lagos Institute for African and Diaspora Studies, the three-day gathering brought together experts to discuss the theme, 'Citizenship, Belonging and Geographies of Conflict in Contemporary Nigeria.'

Presenting the key findings, Victor Ogbonnaya Okorie, a professor of development at Obafemi Awolowo University, highlighted how diverse conflict zones and forms of belonging, such as conditional citizenship, were identified during the discussions. He noted that each conflict zone comprises a triangle of violence involving perpetrators, victims, and witnesses, each with varying experiences and memories.

The scholars stressed that violence is interconnected, with individuals transitioning from victim to perpetrator or witness to involved party. They underscored the importance of addressing not only immediate violence but also the underlying institutional, economic, social, and political structures that perpetuate inequality, deprivation, and conflict.

The recommendations issued by the conference included integrating indigenous African knowledge systems and local conflict-management mechanisms into peacebuilding frameworks, recognizing women's informal peacebuilding roles, and strengthening collaboration among various stakeholders in designing and implementing peacebuilding interventions.

The scholars also called for treating education as a fundamental component of peacebuilding, particularly for displaced children and women, and for strengthening research-policy linkages through interdisciplinary studies.

In conclusion, AUSS-NG emphasized that sustainable peace requires transforming the structures and narratives that produce exclusion and insecurity, not just managing immediate violence. The conference called for stronger collaboration among universities, communities, government institutions, civil society organizations, religious institutions, and international partners to foster more inclusive citizenship, social cohesion, and sustainable peace in Nigeria and beyond.