The Peace and Development Unit of the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) in Nigeria, has organized a ‘Peace Circle’ in Abuja, bringing together young peace-builders, civil society representatives, and seasoned practitioners to discuss youth leadership.

 

Declaring the event at the UN House,in Abuja, the Peace and Development Advisor, Grace Kpohazoude, spoke on a theme, “Hear Us. Act Now for a Peaceful World” reaffirming their commitment to amplifying youth voices and promoting meaningful intergenerational dialogue in peace-building efforts.

 

Kpohazoude also explained that lasting peace requires collective action, inclusive leadership, and meaningful investment in young people as agents of change, saying ,UN is concerned about ongoing conflicts, and that peace-building is a long-term process whose impact is often gradual but significant.

 

Dr. Joseph Ochogwu (IPCR), Rev. John Joseph Hayab of the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria; Dr. Emmanuel Nkanta of the National Peace Committee; and Dr. Arome Salifu of the Africa Youth Growth Foundation shared thoughts on leadership, resilience, conflict prevention, and community engagement.

 

They emphasized that sustainable peace is rooted in integrity, ethical leadership, and service, highlighting dialogue and inclusive engagement as critical tools for overcoming divisions and strengthening social cohesion.

 

While urging young people to move from being observers to active contributors through volunteerism, advocacy, and community action, they urged participants to explore ways to strengthen grassroots peace-building, expand partnership, and promote accountability and transparency in leadership.

 

The meeting concluded with recommendations to institutionalize the Peace Circle as a recurring platform, establish community group for continued engagement, strengthen mentorship opportunities for young peace-builders, and deepen collaboration among government institutions, civil society, faith-based organizations, academia, and development partners.