The Peace Education and Practice Network (PEPNET) team, led by Executive Director Amb. Moses Abolade and Programme Assistant Jonathan Saba, visited Minna, Niger State, on April 9, 2025, to participate in the ongoing Peace Education Workshop organized by the Abdulsalami Abubakar Institute for Peace and Sustainable Development Studies (AAIPSDS). LinkedIn
Upon arrival, the PEPNET team was warmly received by AAIPSDS representatives, including Programme Manager David Kemedubei, Partnerships, Advocacy & Grant Officer Elijah Akinola Earnest, and Research, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer Joseph Shiru. A dinner meeting that evening provided an opportunity for both organizations to discuss potential long-term partnerships aimed at strengthening peace infrastructures across Niger State.
On April 10, 2025, Amb. Abolade facilitated a session introducing approximately 50 secondary school teachers to strategies for establishing peace clubs in schools. The session covered key areas such as understanding the educators’ role in peacebuilding, engaging diverse school contexts, effective conflict management strategies, and methods for monitoring and evaluating peace education activities.
The training was impactful, with participants expressing appreciation for the practical knowledge shared. A representative from the Niger State Ministry of Education attended on behalf of the Honourable Commissioner for Education, commending the quality of the training and expressing interest in future collaborations.
This engagement also marks the beginning of a promising partnership between PEPNET and the Abdulsalami Abubakar Institute for Peace and Sustainable Development Studies (AAIPSDS). Both organizations are committed to working collaboratively to address the challenges of student violence that have led to the closure of some schools in Niger State. Through strategic interventions and the establishment of peace education initiatives, we aim to create an environment conducive to reopening these schools and fostering a culture of peace. PEPNET is enthusiastic about collaborating with AAIPSDS on subsequent phases of the peace education programme, with the shared goal of transforming conflict situations and promoting sustainable peace across the state.
This engagement reinforces PEPNET’s commitment to expanding access to peace education and nurturing young peacebuilders through education and advocacy. As Amb. Abolade stated during his session, “With our collaborative mindset, we will break the cycle of student violence in Minna, Niger State, and throughout the nation.”
PEPNET remains dedicated to creatively teaching peace for development.
