The Cook for Peace Festival, a grassroots initiative credited with reducing inter-community clashes in Orile-Iganmu Lagos, is set to return for its second edition, with organisers promising a larger and more inclusive event focused on strengthening peace and social cohesion.

Convener of the festival and co-founder of Associates of Change Africa, Hadji Kwame Ahmed, disclosed that the second edition will build on the gains of last year’s outing, which recorded over 1,500 participants and has since been linked to a significant decline in community violence.

Ahmed, a chef and youth advocate, explained that the festival was born out of efforts to address recurring clashes among youths in the community, particularly the violent incident during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown which claimed several lives.

“In my community in Orile, we had reached a point where brothers could no longer cross into neighbouring streets without fear,” he said during a recent meeting for volunteers. “So I invited the key stakeholders, the youths involved in the conflicts, to my home. I cooked for them, and over food we discussed the root causes of these fights. That intervention marked the beginning of a journey towards peace.”

Ahmed stressed that the success of that informal peace dialogue inspired the Cook for Peace Festival, designed as an avenue for residents to cook, eat, engage and build relationships across religious, ethnic, and social lines.

Organised annually by Associates of Change Africa, a youth-focused development network working around SDGs 1, 4 and 8, the festival uses food, music and community engagement as tools for reconciliation and social development.

Ahmed noted that the upcoming edition will feature broader participation, including increased involvement from state and local government officials, community leaders and well-meaning Nigerians from all walks of life seeking to support peace-building initiatives.

“This year is going to be bigger,” he said. “More stakeholders want to be part of it, and we are in discussions with community leaders willing to come on board. What excites us most is that since last year’s event, we have not recorded any form of violence in the community. That is evidence that peace-building works.”

He emphasised the need for sustained communal efforts toward harmony, adding that peace remains essential to national development. He also urged Nigerians to remain committed to unity and patriotism, noting that sustainable peace requires contributions from both government and citizens.

“A country in chaos cannot be developed. Peace is a prerequisite for prosperity. We all have a role to play in preventing small misunderstandings from escalating into major conflicts.

“Irrespective of tribe, religion or background, we must identify with our country. You cannot curse a land and expect it to bless you. When we love one another, we avoid actions that lead to harm,” he said.

Organisers, who also engage in school visitation to boost the morale of schoolchildren and offer support for the elderly, say the Cook for Peace Festival 2.0 aims to continue its mission of promoting dialogue, fostering collaboration among residents and reshaping perceptions about communities often associated with unrest.

The festival will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at Kekere-Ekun playground in Orile-Iganmu, Coker-Aguda, Lagos; with new layers of empowerment for young people as part of broader efforts by Associates of Change Africa to strengthen education, economic inclusion and youth development within underserved communities.