IPCR, FES seek trust-building between citizens, security agencies

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) are advocating for a focus on social justice, inclusion, and economic opportunities to foster peace in Nigeria. Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, IPCR's Director-General, and Lennart Oestergaard, FES's Country Representative for Nigeria, emphasized this message during the fifth induction ceremony of members of the National Peace Academy in Abuja.

Ochogwu stressed that peace cannot be maintained merely by the absence of violence, noting that exclusion, inequality, and perceived injustice can lead to renewed conflict. He highlighted the importance of inducting new peace practitioners to strengthen Nigeria's professional peace architecture and build capacity for conflict prevention and resolution.

The inductees, representing various sectors like the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Police Force, demonstrated that peacebuilding is a collective responsibility.

Ochogwu urged the newly inducted practitioners to act as agents of dialogue, reconciliation, and de-escalation in their respective organizations and communities. He emphasized that true peacebuilding involves modeling dialogue over division, fairness over partisanship, inclusion over exclusion, and restraint over reaction. He explained that the true measure of the induction would be the practitioners' impact in preventing conflicts, resolving disputes, and strengthening institutions, rather than just the certificates they receive.

Lennart Oestergaard, FES's Country Representative for Nigeria, echoed the importance of social justice, stating that lasting peace requires more than just the absence of violence. He argued that peace must encompass dignity, economic security, and equal opportunities. Oestergaard noted that poverty, inequality, exclusion, and lost livelihoods can fuel conflicts, making armed group recruitment more likely.

He stressed that young people are particularly vulnerable, often targeted by armed groups due to lack of decent work opportunities. He also highlighted the need for trust between security forces and communities, calling for mediation, early warning systems, job creation for young people, women's participation, regional cooperation, and effective use of peacebuilding institutions.

Oestergaard urged the newly inducted members to leverage their knowledge across various sectors, including government institutions, security agencies, universities, communities, and civil society. He emphasized that credible, peaceful, and inclusive elections in 2027 would be a significant investment in peace for Nigeria. He stressed that understanding conflict dynamics, knowing how to mediate, and having a network of peace advocates are crucial for Nigeria's future.

Ultimately, Oestergaard reiterated that "no peace without social justice," and that achieving justice requires active participation.