Abdul Ahmed (left) and Ahmadu Shettima (right) during week 3 of the radio program.
After a brief hiatus, the One Family under God (OFUG) Radio Program by Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Nigeria made a return in January 2025, continuing its mission to promote peaceful coexistence, strengthen family values, and foster interfaith harmony. Broadcast on Liberty Radio Kaduna, the program reached an estimated 1.8 million listeners weekly, totaling over 7.2 million in four weeks across Kaduna and neighboring states, including Niger, Katsina, and Kano. The program’s revival was a necessity to address the growing demand for dialogue-driven peace initiatives in communities across the country.
The OFUG Radio Program serves as a crucial platform for addressing deep-rooted societal issues that threaten peace and cohesion. The program’s January episodes focused on the role of good neighborliness in creating more peaceful societies. Discussions highlighted how simple gestures—such as knowing one’s neighbors, fostering understanding, and engaging in open dialogue—can significantly reduce conflicts and strengthen social bonds.
Experts and guests, including Rimpyen Danjuma, Youth & Education Development Officer at GPF Nigeria, and Nurudeen Dauda, a Kaduna-based public affairs analyst, emphasized that the rise of social crimes such as banditry and kidnapping is often linked to the breakdown of traditional neighborhood relationships. They called for a revival of community initiatives such as neighborhood watch programs, environmental sanitation exercises, and local forums where residents can regularly interact and support one another.
Beyond fostering harmony among neighbors, the program tackled pressing concerns affecting communities, particularly the education sector. A special Live Radio Town Hall feature during the third and fourth weeks of January focused on advocating for the reinstatement of funding for external examination fees for public senior secondary school students. This policy, halted two years ago, has had a direct impact on students from low-income backgrounds, particularly girls, leading to increased dropout rates.
The guests—Abdul Ahmed, Senior Programs Manager at GPF Nigeria, and Shetima Ahmadu, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer—urged the Kaduna State Government to prioritize education funding. Their advocacy efforts bore fruit, as the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA) allocated 150 Million Naira to cover examination fees, benefiting over 5,357 students, including 2,625 girls (49%) from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Additionally, the program addressed the growing concern of gender-based violence (GBV) in public schools. Many girls have dropped out due to fears of harassment and unsafe learning environments. By engaging security agencies, community leaders, and education stakeholders, the program called for stronger protective measures in schools, ensuring that students, especially girls, have a safe and supportive environment to learn.
The return of the OFUG Radio Program was met with widespread enthusiasm. Listeners called in to share their appreciation and reflections. Ugulo Daniel Dalhatu from U/boro, Sabo in Chikun
LGA applauded the initiative, emphasizing the need to revive community-based activities that encourage socialization and collaboration. Mustapha Alliance, a regular listener from Zaria, expressed his joy at the program’s return, emphasizing that good relationships with neighbors are more valuable than distant family ties in times of need.
Rahina Mohammed, speaking at a town hall meeting, commended GPF Nigeria for addressing the root causes of conflict rather than just calling for peace. She stressed that both formal and informal education are crucial in shaping individuals who can make informed decisions, ultimately contributing to a more peaceful society.
With the success of the January broadcasts, GPF Nigeria is committed to ensuring the program’s continuity, exploring further engagements, including potential partnerships, to sustain the impact of the OFUG Radio Program. The overwhelmingly positive response highlights the program’s crucial role in fostering unity, strengthening families, and promoting interfaith collaboration. By bringing people together across faiths, ethnicities, and social backgrounds, the One Family under God Radio Program continues to serve as a powerful voice for peace, proving that media can be a transformative tool in peacebuilding.
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