GPF Nigeria Empowers Youth Against Election Violence

Naomi MacMurdie
February 24, 2023
Youth with signs

Youth show support against electoral violence

Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Nigeria is helping strengthen communities against election violence across the country in anticipation of the 2023 elections.

GPF Nigeria organized and participated in several conferences and peacebuilding workshops in January and February to empower youth and community leaders. On January 19, 2023, GPF Nigeria facilitated a peacebuilding session during a three-day youth workshop supporting violence-free elections. The event was a collaboration between the Center for Peace Advocacy and Sustainable Development and Nonviolence Peace Force.

Country Director for GPF Nigeria, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, delivered a presentation on “Enhancing electoral processes through violent-free elections.” Not only did he discuss the history and forms of electoral violence in the country, but he also described the transformative impact peacebuilding can have in this specific area for the greater community. He especially called on youth to be the leaders of community-driven peacebuilding. Youth play an essential role in ensuring the political future of the country.

Youth sitting at tables

Youth gather for capacity-building workshops against electoral violence

On February 11 and 12, 2023, volunteers with GPF Nigeria visited students at Adamawa State University. Pastor Jennifer Wusa was among the group. She gave a presentation on the local campaign against electoral violence. Education is paramount to providing a route out of poverty and rejecting radical groups that would harm peaceful political processes. Pastor Jennifer encouraged students to strive towards graduation and become leaders in peacebuilding for their communities.

GPF Nigeria also conducted a program on February 20 called “Youths against Electoral Violence Advocacy” to deliberate on the major causes of electoral violence and suggest possible solutions to prevent it. More than one hundred youth participated.

Prince Yusuf Mamman was among the attendees and expressed his appreciation for the event, saying, “It is always pleasurable to meet young people from other communities different from mine, particularly to engage on issues of promoting national cohesion and peaceful coexistence.”

Dr. Philip John Hayab, a Research Fellow with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, was a guest speaker at the youth forum. He highlighted the role young people will play in the upcoming elections saying, “The youth are key to anything that happens before, during, and after the forth coming elections. They must therefore take their place as critical stakeholders.”

Read more on Leadership Nigeria: Ensure 2023 Election Is Violence-free, Global Peace Tells Nigerian Youths

Read more on Vanguard Nigeria: Polls: Be wary of greedy politicians, GPFN warns youths

 

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