At WANEP-Nigeria, we believe that lasting peace begins with the minds and hearts of young people. Active Non-violence and Peace Education programme focuses on integrating peacebuilding values into Nigeria’s formal education system starting from primary schools through to tertiary institutions.
The strategic goal is to institutionalise peace education and non-violent conflict resolution skills, helping reduce youth involvement in violence. By equipping students with tools for dialogue, tolerance, citizenship, and peer mediation, we are fostering a generation that resolves conflict through understanding, not aggression. Through this, WANEP-Nigeria supports schools to become platforms for social dialogue and peaceful coexistence, embedding peace clubs, peer mediation structures, and practical learning that encourages positive change. Our long-term vision is clear: “A national education system where peace education is part of every curriculum, nurturing young leaders who champion non-violence in their communities and beyond”.
In many parts of Nigeria, young people grow up surrounded by conflict whether it’s in their communities, on the streets, or even in their schools. Some are drawn into violence, not because they want to hurt others, but because no one ever taught them another way. At WANEP-Nigeria, we believe that peace is not just the absence of war it is a skill that can be taught, practiced, and passed down from one generation to the next.
Our goal is to build a culture of peace by starting where it matters most in the hearts and minds of children and youth. Through this programme, we work with primary, secondary, and tertiary schools to make peace education part of everyday learning. We help teachers and students build the skills they need to understand one another, manage conflict, and resolve disputes without resorting to violence. In classrooms and playgrounds across Nigeria, we are helping to shape a new kind of learning environment one where empathy, tolerance, and respect are as important as reading and math.
We set up Peace Clubs and Peer Mediation Teams where students take the lead in promoting non-violence among their peers. We train educators to guide discussions on citizenship, diversity, and dialogue. We support creative ways for young people to express their hopes for peace through art, music, drama, and debate. Our vision is that one day, peace education will be a standard part of the Nigerian school curriculum, just like science or social studies. And when that happens, our children will grow up knowing how to handle differences peacefully, how to speak up without fear, and how to become responsible citizens in their communities.
