Project Background
The NEXUS Civil Society Exchange Programme was designed to facilitate cross-learning between civil society organizations and youth leaders from different conflict-affected states in Nigeria. The programme focused on understanding conflict dynamics, studying successful peacebuilding interventions, and developing strategies to counter hate speech and prevent mass atrocities.
Kaduna and Plateau States have both experienced significant ethno-religious conflicts over the past decades. While the nature and triggers of conflicts in both states share similarities, the responses and peacebuilding approaches have varied. This exchange programme aimed to create opportunities for youth leaders from Kaduna to learn from the experiences of Plateau State and vice versa.
Programme Objectives
The educational exchange visit aimed to achieve the following objectives:
- To study the conflict experiences of both Kaduna and Plateau States
- To facilitate interaction between youth leaders and conflict parties in both states
- To draw lessons from successful peacebuilding interventions
- To develop strategies for countering hate speech in communities
- To build networks between civil society actors across states
- To enhance the capacity of youth leaders in conflict prevention and peacebuilding
Programme Activities
Week 1: Kaduna State Visit
The first week of the exchange programme was spent in Kaduna State, where participants from Plateau State visited various communities and engaged with local stakeholders. Key activities included:
- Courtesy visits to traditional rulers and community leaders
- Interactive sessions with youth groups and women's organizations
- Field visits to conflict-affected communities
- Meetings with local peacebuilding organizations
- Dialogue sessions with religious leaders (Christian and Muslim)
- Documentation of conflict triggers and early warning signs
Week 2: Plateau State Visit
The second week brought youth leaders from Kaduna State to Plateau State for reciprocal learning. Activities included:
- Visits to Jos North and Jos South communities
- Engagement with the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency
- Interactive sessions with Community Development Associations (CDAs)
- Study of CCAPAD's grassroots peacebuilding model
- Dialogue with interfaith groups and peace committees
- Sharing of best practices in conflict early warning and response
Key Learnings and Insights
Understanding Conflict Dynamics
Participants gained deeper understanding of how conflicts evolve in different contexts. While both states experienced ethno-religious tensions, the specific triggers, actors, and escalation patterns differed significantly. This comparative analysis helped participants appreciate the importance of context-specific interventions.
Role of Hate Speech
The exchange programme highlighted how hate speech serves as a precursor to violence in both states. Participants identified common patterns:
- Use of inflammatory language by political actors during elections
- Spread of rumors and misinformation through social media
- Stereotyping and dehumanization of "the other"
- Religious sermons that promote division rather than unity
- Youth unemployment creating vulnerability to manipulation
Successful Peacebuilding Approaches
Participants documented several successful interventions that could be replicated:
- Interfaith dialogue platforms bringing religious leaders together
- Community-based early warning systems
- Youth empowerment programmes reducing vulnerability to violence
- Women-led peace initiatives bridging divided communities
- Traditional conflict resolution mechanisms
- Joint economic ventures between different groups
Participant Testimonials
"This exchange programme opened my eyes to the fact that we are not alone in our struggles. Seeing how communities in Plateau State have rebuilt trust after violence gives me hope that we can do the same in Kaduna."
— Youth Leader from Kaduna State
"I learned that hate speech doesn't just happen in a vacuum. It's often deliberately used by people who benefit from division. As youth leaders, we must be vigilant and counter these narratives with messages of peace and unity."
— Participant from Plateau State
"The most powerful lesson for me was seeing former enemies now working together for peace. If they can forgive and move forward, then there's hope for all of us."
— Youth Leader from Kaduna State
Action Plans Developed
At the end of the two-week exchange, participants developed concrete action plans to implement in their respective communities:
Countering Hate Speech
- Establish social media monitoring teams to identify and counter hate speech
- Organize community sensitization campaigns on the dangers of inflammatory language
- Engage religious and traditional leaders to promote messages of peace
- Create alternative narratives that celebrate diversity and coexistence
Building Peace Networks
- Form cross-state youth peace networks for ongoing collaboration
- Establish regular communication channels between participants
- Organize joint peacebuilding activities and events
- Share early warning information across states
Community Engagement
- Replicate successful peacebuilding models in home communities
- Organize interfaith dialogue sessions
- Conduct peace education in schools and youth centers
- Support economic cooperation between divided groups
Challenges Encountered
- Initial suspicion and mistrust between participants from different backgrounds
- Language barriers in some communities requiring translation
- Security concerns in visiting certain conflict-affected areas
- Limited time to engage deeply with all stakeholders
- Logistical challenges in coordinating movements across states
- Emotional difficulty in hearing traumatic conflict stories
Recommendations
- Extend the duration of exchange programmes to allow for deeper engagement
- Include more diverse participants (women, traditional leaders, religious figures)
- Provide follow-up support for implementing action plans
- Document and share learnings with wider audiences
- Establish a permanent exchange programme framework
- Integrate trauma healing components into future exchanges
- Create online platforms for continued collaboration
- Involve government agencies in scaling successful models
Impact and Sustainability
The NEXUS Civil Society Exchange Programme demonstrated the power of cross-learning and peer-to-peer engagement in peacebuilding. By bringing together youth leaders from different conflict contexts, the programme:
- Built empathy and understanding across divides
- Created networks for ongoing collaboration
- Equipped participants with practical peacebuilding skills
- Generated innovative approaches to countering hate speech
- Inspired hope and commitment to peace work
The relationships and networks established during this exchange continue to facilitate collaboration between civil society actors in Kaduna and Plateau States, contributing to more coordinated and effective peacebuilding efforts across Northern Nigeria.
Conclusion
The NEXUS project successfully demonstrated that educational exchange programmes can be powerful tools for peacebuilding. By creating spaces for youth leaders to learn from each other's experiences, the programme not only built individual capacities but also strengthened the broader civil society network working for peace in Nigeria.
The commitment and enthusiasm shown by participants, combined with the concrete action plans developed, suggest that the impact of this exchange will extend far beyond the two-week programme period. As participants implement their learnings in their communities, they become agents of change, multiplying the programme's impact and contributing to the broader goal of preventing mass atrocities and building sustainable peace.