Empowering Young People to Build Peace: OIPCD Graduates First Cohort of Peacebuilders Leadership Internship

Building peaceful communities requires more than responding to conflict. It requires investing in a new generation of young leaders equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to prevent conflict, promote dialogue, and strengthen social cohesion before divisions take root.

It is this belief that inspired the Ominya Initiative for Peace and Community Development (OIPCD) to launch the Peacebuilders Leadership Internship (PLI 1.0), a 12-week leadership and peacebuilding programme designed to prepare young people to become catalysts for peace and community development.

The organisation recently celebrated the graduation of the inaugural cohort during a ceremony held in Abuja, marking the successful completion of the programme by participants who have now joined OIPCD’s growing network of Peace Champions committed to promoting peaceful coexistence and driving positive social change within their communities.

Over the course of three months, participants engaged in weekly hybrid learning sessions facilitated by experienced peacebuilding practitioners and experts. The internship covered a wide range of topics, including peacebuilding, conflict analysis and resolution, Youth, Peace and Security (YPS), gender and inclusive peacebuilding, youth leadership, advocacy, project management, and the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for peacebuilding and social impact.

Beyond the classroom, participants were challenged to put their learning into practice. As part of the internship, they designed and implemented a Pass It On (PIO) Project at the Karamajiji Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, where they engaged young people in conversations around peace, dialogue, empathy, and non-violent conflict resolution. The initiative provided participants with an opportunity to translate theory into meaningful community action while encouraging young people within the camp to become advocates for peaceful coexistence.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Executive Director of OIPCD, Amb. Honest Salihu Gode, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to investing in young people as partners in building peaceful and resilient communities.

She noted that the successful completion of the first cohort reflects the growing potential of youth-led initiatives to promote peace, strengthen community resilience, and contribute to sustainable development. According to her, when young people are intentionally equipped with the right knowledge, mentorship, and opportunities, they become powerful agents of positive change within their communities.

The graduation ceremony featured a keynote address delivered by Hon. Tpl Abubakar Ahmed Sadiq, certificate presentations, recognition of outstanding interns, reflections on the internship journey, and appreciation for the facilitators and partners whose contributions made the programme possible.

With the successful completion of PLI 1.0, OIPCD says it remains committed to expanding the initiative and creating more opportunities for young people to develop the leadership, peacebuilding, and community engagement skills needed to address today’s challenges and build a more peaceful future.

For the organisation, the graduation of the inaugural cohort is not simply the end of a training programme. It marks the beginning of a growing movement of young peacebuilders committed to leading conversations, inspiring action, and building stronger, more peaceful communities across Nigeria.