The Ominya Initiative for Peace and Community Development (OIPCD) has graduated the inaugural cohort of its Peacebuilders Leadership Internship (PLI 1.0), equipping a new generation of young people with practical skills to promote peace, resolve conflicts and drive positive change in their communities.
The 12-week leadership and peacebuilding programme, which concluded with a graduation ceremony in Abuja on July 31, 2026, brought together young people who underwent intensive training in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, leadership, civic engagement and community development.
The graduates have now joined OIPCD’s growing network of Peace Champions, positioning them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme to peacebuilding and social-impact initiatives within their communities.
Designed as a practical leadership development programme, PLI 1.0 combined weekly hybrid learning sessions with hands-on community engagement. Participants were trained by experienced peacebuilding practitioners and experts across areas including conflict analysis and resolution, Youth, Peace and Security (YPS), gender and inclusive peacebuilding, youth leadership, advocacy and project management.
The programme also introduced participants to the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for peacebuilding and social impact, reflecting the growing need for young leaders to understand how emerging technologies can support community development and civic action.
A key component of the internship was the implementation of the Pass It On (PIO) Project at the Karamajiji IDP Camp, where the interns took their learning beyond the classroom and engaged young people in conversations around peace, dialogue, empathy and non-violent conflict resolution.
The community project demonstrated the programme’s emphasis on translating leadership and peacebuilding knowledge into practical action, while giving participants direct experience engaging communities affected by displacement and other vulnerabilities.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Executive Director of OIPCD, Amb. Honest Salihu Gode, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to investing in young people as catalysts for peace and sustainable development.
The successful completion of the first cohort, she noted, underscores the potential of youth-led initiatives to contribute to peaceful communities while strengthening the capacity of emerging leaders to drive social change.
The graduation ceremony featured a keynote address by Hon. Tpl Abubakar Ahmed Sadiq, presentation of certificates, recognition of outstanding interns and reflections from participants on their experiences throughout the 12-week programme.
Facilitators and partners who contributed to the delivery of the programme were also recognised for their support.
Beyond celebrating the completion of the first cohort, the graduation represents an investment in building a pipeline of young Nigerians equipped to participate meaningfully in peacebuilding and community development.
