Date: Thursday, 9 July 2026
Written by: Ifeoluwa Olukayode
Communications Assistant
Peace Education and Practice Network (PEPNET)
The Peace Education and Practice Network (PEPNET) held a strategic engagement with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration on youth participation, democratic governance, civic engagement, and peacebuilding in Nigeria.
The meeting, led by PEPNET’s Executive Director, Amb. Moses ABOLADE, provided an opportunity to present the VOICE Nigeria (Voices for Opportunities, Inclusion, Civic Engagement and Empowerment in Nigeria) initiative, a flagship programme aimed at creating sustainable platforms for meaningful youth participation in governance, legislative engagement, public policy, and conflict transformation.
During the engagement, PEPNET highlighted the growing need to bridge the gap between young people and democratic institutions by promoting informed civic participation, inclusive dialogue, and policy engagement. The organisation emphasised that strengthening youth voices in governance is essential to advancing peaceful, accountable, and inclusive societies.
The Director of the Department of Democracy and Governance at NILDS, Dr Christopher O. Ngara, welcomed the initiative and shared insights into the Institute’s mandate of strengthening legislative capacity, supporting democratic governance, and promoting evidence-based policy development. He noted the strong alignment between NILDS’ institutional objectives and PEPNET’s mission and expressed the Institute’s willingness to explore opportunities for collaboration.
As part of the meeting, PEPNET formally submitted its partnership letter and concept note for the VOICE Nigeria initiative. The documents were received for institutional review, with a designated focal person identified to coordinate subsequent engagements.
The proposed partnership represents an important step towards strengthening collaboration between civil society and public institutions in promoting peace education, democratic governance, youth leadership, and civic engagement. Through VOICE Nigeria, PEPNET envisions creating a national platform that empowers young people to actively contribute to legislative processes, public policy discussions, and peacebuilding efforts, while supporting more responsive, inclusive, and accountable governance.
PEPNET appreciates the warm reception from the leadership of NILDS and looks forward to building a productive partnership that contributes to sustainable peace, democratic development, and youth empowerment in Nigeria and across Africa.
