By Waziri Isa Adam
A two-day conference on “Reimagining Peace in Nigeria: Resilience, Reconciliation, Social Justice and Everyday Politics” has called for a review of existing peace and security practices in Nigeria.
The conference, organized by the APN-Next Gen African University Seminar Series-Nigeria (AUSS-NG) at the University of Abuja, brought together 26 alumni who presented papers and deliberated on the challenges of peacebuilding in Nigeria.
The conference aimed to reimagine peace in Nigeria, focusing on resilience, reconciliation, social justice, and everyday politics. Participants discussed various challenges facing peacebuilding efforts in the country, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to managing violence and conflicts.
Keynote speaker, Prof. Abosode Omowumi Babatunde of the University of Ilorin, highlighted the critical role of traditional leaders in building community resilience and effective localized peacebuilding. She emphasized the need for innovative approaches to managing violence and conflicts, considering the “politics of the local.”
According to Prof. Babatunde, traditional leaders play a vital role in promoting peace and security in their communities. She noted that localized peacebuilding efforts can be effective in addressing the root causes of conflicts and promoting sustainable peace.
The conference participants noted several challenges facing peacebuilding efforts in Nigeria, including fragmentation of the security landscape due to the proliferation of state and non-state security actors. This fragmentation has undermined peace and security in the country, creating an environment conducive to violence and conflicts.
Another challenge identified was the politicization of insecurity, which has exacerbated conflicts and created divisions among communities. Participants emphasized the need for a more nuanced approach to addressing insecurity, one that takes into account the complex dynamics of conflicts in Nigeria.
The legacy of historical injustices was also identified as a major challenge facing peacebuilding efforts in Nigeria. Participants noted that these injustices have sustained local resistance and created deep-rooted grievances that may not be resolvable due to institutional failure.
The conference participants also highlighted the challenges posed by borders and transnational security to vulnerable groups. They noted that these challenges have heightened precarity for such groups, creating an environment conducive to violence and exploitation.
To address these challenges, the participants resolved that existing peace and security practices should be reviewed, and alternative approaches should be sought. They emphasized the need for innovative approaches to managing violence and conflicts, ones that take into account the complex dynamics of conflicts in Nigeria.
The participants also called for deliberate efforts to strengthen long-term multilateral social collaboration in peacebuilding. They noted that such collaboration is essential for promoting peace and security in Nigeria, and for addressing the root causes of conflicts.
Furthermore, the participants resolved that security reform should be reviewed to address fragmentation. They emphasized the need for a more coordinated approach to security, one that takes into account the complex dynamics of conflicts in Nigeria.
The conference emphasized the importance of promoting reconciliation and successful peacebuilding, and the need for innovative approaches to managing violence and conflicts. The APN-Next Gen Programme Director, Professor Cyril Obi, represented by Ms. Maimona Ctherif, expressed commitment to promoting peace and security in Nigeria through innovative approaches and collaboration.