The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has identified Nigerian youths as critical to determining whether the 2027 general elections will strengthen national cohesion or deepen the country’s fault lines, urging them to transform their growing influence into a force for peace and development.
The IPCR Director-General, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, made the call on Thursday, 27 August, 2026 in Abuja at the opening of a two-day capacity-building programme for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, SIWES participants, interns and volunteers.
The training, organised under the Renewed Hope Agenda for Young Peacebuilders, seeks to prepare young Nigerians to identify early warning signs of conflict, prevent violence, mediate disputes and promote dialogue within their communities and across social and political divides.
Ochogwu said Nigeria could not build lasting peace or achieve sustainable development without deliberately engaging its young population as active participants in peacebuilding.
He said the traditional perception of youths as mere beneficiaries of peace initiatives must change, stressing that they should instead be regarded as partners, leaders and drivers of efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts.
“Peace is not simply the absence of war. Peace is the presence of justice. Peace is the presence of dialogue. Peace is respect for human dignity,” he said.
The IPCR chief said the ability of Nigerians to disagree over political, ethnic, religious and social issues without turning their differences into violence would be crucial to the country’s democratic future.
He urged the young participants to take the lessons from the training into their communities, workplaces, schools, homes and online platforms.
Ochogwu particularly highlighted the power of social media, warning that misinformation, rumours and hate speech could rapidly transform isolated grievances into wider conflicts.
“When you hear a rumour capable of provoking violence, do not become part of its distribution. Verify,” he said.
He urged young Nigerians to use their digital platforms to challenge false information, promote tolerance and encourage constructive engagement among citizens.
According to him, Nigeria’s diversity should be treated as an asset rather than a trigger for division.
He also stressed that peace and economic prosperity were inseparable, noting that insecurity destroys businesses, discourages investment and undermines development.
“There can be no sustainable development where communities live in constant fear. There can be no meaningful investment where violence destroys businesses and infrastructure,” he said.
The Peace and Development Adviser, United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, Ms Grace Kpohazounde, said young Nigerians must be prepared to confront exclusion and injustice, which she identified as potential drivers of conflict.
She encouraged the participants to speak up when they encounter situations capable of breeding resentment and instability.
Kpohazounde said peacebuilding should not be approached primarily as a source of income but as a sustained commitment to society.
She disclosed that the United Nations was collaborating with Nigerian institutions, including the IPCR, at national and sub-national levels to strengthen peacebuilding mechanisms.
She urged the youths to remain particularly vigilant as political activities intensify towards the 2027 elections, warning that young people could be targeted for manipulation by actors seeking to exploit existing grievances.
Also, the Senior Conflict Adviser, British High Commission, Dr David Rinnert, urged young peacebuilders to avoid impulsive interventions in conflict situations.
He said effective peacebuilding required a deep understanding of the issues and stakeholders involved, a clearly communicated vision and consistent implementation.
“There’s no silver bullet. For me, it’s really those three things: understand deeply, create and communicate a clear vision, deliver consistently, work with others,” Rinnert said.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, represented by Amb. Muyiwa Aiyedun, said peacebuilding was fundamental to national unity and economic growth.
He urged young Nigerians to recognise the responsibility that came with their influence and contribute actively to preventing violence and strengthening social cohesion.
The training is part of IPCR’s efforts to develop a new generation of peacebuilders capable of promoting conflict prevention, mediation, dialogue, tolerance and responsible civic engagement.
With youths constituting a significant force in Nigeria’s political and digital spaces, the institute’s intervention places them at the centre of efforts to secure a peaceful electoral environment ahead of the 2027 polls.
