By Chinedu Jesse Isagbah
Summary: This article offers insight into the incorporation of the youth-centered peacebuilding approaches that emerged in Nigeria and can increasingly be found across the world. I explore how youth should be engaged in creating a better and more peaceful atmosphere, and how leaders need to incorporate their perspectives into ending conflicts. At the heart of this approach is an understanding that peace and security are linked to factors like employment and innovation, which impact the lives of these younger generations. I will conclude by discussing the proactive measures that all communities and countries must take to preserve the future for our children.
Peace as Prosperity
It is often said that sound economic policies and a strong social security system are the bedrock of the most peaceful societies. This is undeniably so, as current events have demonstrated how previously thriving societies are today struggling with defense of their territories from external and internal insurgents. From Eastern Europe to Western Africa, a variety of disruptive issues have arisen in recent years, subsequently impacting the peace and prosperity of nations on every continent.
As I write this column, peacebuilders around the world continue to empathize with the dire conflict in Ukraine (1). Last year, Russia placed its eyes and might on annexing the remainder of the country into its already large and wealthy empire, which is currently ruled by a powerful dictator. This abysmal war has provoked a global outcry and solidarity for the people of Ukraine, who are at the receiving end of the violence and have often been forced to flee the nation of their birth.
This provocation by Russia has also been met by the full force of the Ukrainian people, who are determined to protect their homeland at all costs. Groups and institutions at all levels have urged for peace measures to be implemented through various calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine, from the United Nations (UN) to the European Union. Yet, the conversations surrounding the war seem to revolve around the belief that militarized intervention could quickly escalate and destabilize global peace (2).
While acknowledging the complexities of these different conflict environments and mechanisms for peacebuilding, I seek to share a localized approach to peace that has proven to be successful in my own home country. This method focuses on involving youth in peacebuilding to end conflicts and secure a more sustainable future, which is increasingly being adopted by many nations globally.
The correlation between peace and prosperity is deeply tied to the preservation of the future and this future rests with our young people. More young people have shown readiness to take responsibility for the advancement of mankind by collaborating in various ways to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, an achievement that depends largely on peace (3).
Youth-Centered Peacebuilding in Nigeria
Nigeria, where I am from, is Africa’s second largest economy. It is the largest Black nation by population and Africa’s tech innovation hub. Nigeria is a nation with immense human capital, economic potentials, and vast natural resources. But it has been plunged into war by various divisive elements, like Boko Haram in its northern region (4), militants in its southern region, and killer herdsmen in its western region. Nigeria’s economic potentials have suffered immense setbacks primarily because of insecurity and corruption. Human life and business endeavors are currently at an all-time high risk of being affected by the activities of these insurgents.
In war zones, whether the provocateur is another nation-state or an armed rebel group, millions of people have been plunged into despair, penury, disease, and disillusion. Like in Ukraine, the victims of these armed conflicts in Nigeria have fortunately received humanitarian support. However, the most successful approach to long-term peace in Nigeria has been centered around youth engagement. From 2014 onwards, organizations like Winning All Youth (WAY) have emerged within these conflict areas, rolling out programs focused on interfaith collaboration, tolerance, and coexistence. WAY itself has reached over 5,000 young people through its “Education in Conflict Areas” initiative, which has especially used positive and accurate information to counter ethnic distrust and the malevolence of religious extremists (5).
What I have found through this important work is that peace has a direct relationship with economic prosperity. It provides a calm environment for innovation, and encourages meaningful social and economic engagement. Peacebuilding programs should especially recognize the detrimental role that conflict has on opportunities for young people’s lives and futures. Youth should be encouraged to participate in decision-making and voice their concerns, as their involvement is fundamental for creating sustainable development and a more peaceful world.
In Nigeria, we have found that sustainable development requires concrete and urgent action. This can only be achieved through a broad alliance of government, civil society, and the private sector. These groups must all work together to secure a stable path forward for present and future generations. Without peace, there will be no future, and our young people will never grow old themselves, let alone have opportunities for steady livelihoods and the possibility of retirement. The path forward to local and global peace requires engaging youth in shaping our shared present and future.
Global Youth Programs
Fortunately, I also see a similar approach taking place in countries around the world. Youth groups from every continent are showing an increased interest in the remediation and resolution of long-lasting conflicts as a way to build a more sustainable future for their generation. Within the Bosch Alumni Network alone, experienced peacebuilders have been supporting young people working for peace on the local and global level. These Peace Cluster projects include the Global Peace Champions, Peer Peace Dialogues, World War 2 Peace, and many more.
For instance, the Global Peace Champions initiative that I am involved with aims to mobilize women and youth who have suffered unduly from conflict, violence, and war in diverse contexts (6). This project was started in August 2021 and seeks to acknowledge the fundamental roles these groups play within the sectors of peace and security, and to set the stage for a review of these issues (7). Our efforts align with commemorations of the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on Women, Peace and Security, which took place on October 31, 2020 (8).
Though conflict circumstances may vastly differ around the world, the Global Peace Champions emphasizes our shared commonalities and opportunities for exchange of perspective. Without peace and security, human life continues to be lost, and economies, employment prospects, and innovation suffers. Peace seems infinitely elusive for some, while others may dedicate their whole lives to finding strategic approaches and interventions to end conflict in these areas. Accordingly, our interest in pursuing and building sustainable peace initiatives with women and youth at the center has kept conversations open about negotiating coexistence at the roundtable rather than on the battlefield.
Sustaining Peace
Most importantly, we must collectively come together with other young people to hold the leaders of all nations accountable and ensure that measures are strengthened to install long-lasting peace. Those in power must remain open to diplomatic and dialogue-based resolutions that give young people a platform to share their views on the impact of conflicts in education, child development, livelihoods, and sustenance. Discussions especially need to remain centered around our shared humanity and collective prosperity.
Based around this youth-focused model that has developed in Nigeria, I am personally optimistic about the pivotal role that young people are playing in achieving sustainable peace in hot zones around the world. Youth are refusing to remain on the sidelines of these global conversations about finding solutions to end conflicts and preserve our collective future. We must work hard to deescalate hostilities anywhere and everywhere, and to prevent violent conflicts that could lead to the end of humankind.
In the Nigerian Igbo language, a particular phrase comes to mind as I conclude my reflections. OZOEMENA means: “It shouldn’t occur again.” This word became especially popular in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War, which lasted from July 1967 to January 1970. Many are yet to recover from the impacts and emotional wounds of that conflict, let alone the others that have since developed. I am certain that many veterans of the world wars and other victims of recent violent conflict would all similarly echo, OZOEMENA. Let us give peace a lasting chance to prevail before it is too late by centering the voices of young people, who know too well the stakes for their future.
About the Author
Chinedu Isagbah is the Founder/Convener of the Greater Nigeria Initiative/Conference. He is a Nigerian lawyer, published author, and change agent. He currently serves as Regional Director for West Africa and as the International Director for Monitoring and Evaluation at Africa-Asia Youth Foundation since 2020.
In 2014, Chinedu founded the Greater Nigeria Initiative, a nonprofit focused on quality education under SDG 4 through its Winning All Youth initiative and SDG 16 through the Tambaya project for public/private sector accountability cum social justice and peace education. He coordinated the Public Integrity Club at University of Jos between 2018 and 2019, and was appointed a 2019 Bounce Corruption Changemaker by YIAGA AFRICA. He also served as a 2019 Millennium Fellow and in 2020 as a Theirworld Global Youth Ambassador(Member of the Project Amplify Global Cohort).
He is a member of many professional associations and development networks, including the Nigerian Chapter of the International Law Association, The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigerian Chapter), the Bosch Alumni Network, and the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust as a 2022 Young Leader. Chinedu chairs the advisory board of the Fitzgerald Centre for Policy and Project Evaluation. He is also a cerebral volunteer with international, national, and local non-profits like Junior Achievement Nigeria, International Youth Society, YIAGA Africa, Connected Development, Africa Policy Conversation, and Enough is Enough NG.
In October 2021, Chinedu was appointed a Fellow of the Nigerian School on Internet Governance by the Internet Society of Nigeria and PRIDA United Kingdom. Chinedu founded the Credible Elections for Inclusive Development CEID INITIATIVE in April 2022 in a bid to build capacities of marginalized groups and persons on electoral participation, funded by the Bosch Alumni Network. An alumnus of the 2022 Distinguished Social Justice Academy, Chinedu was appointed into the Nigeria Youth Voice Survey Consultative Advisory Panel in July 2022. He additionally writes for the Tambaya Blog and is blessed to serve in God’s Vineyard.
References
1. https://www.dw.com/en/war-in-ukraine/t-60931789
2. https://dppa.un.org/en/dicarlo-we-need-peace-ukraine-peace-founded-respect-un-charter-and-international-law
3. https://sdgs.un.org/goals
4. https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/boko-haram-nigeria
5. https://www.millenniumfellows.org/fellow/2019/unijos/chinedu-jesse-isagbah
6. https://www.facebook.com/globalpeacechampions
7. https://web.facebook.com/globalpeacechampions/?_rdc=1&_rdr
8. https://www.usip.org/gender_peacebuilding/about_UNSCR_1325