Institute of Governance and Social Research (IGSR) in collaboration with the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) is implementing a project titled “The Youth and Peaceful Coexistence in Community: The Plateau Case” in Plateau Central Senatorial Zone. The Youth Peace Camp is one of the major activities of the project which is usually done in collaboration with the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (C&LTC).

IGSR just rounded up its eight camp in Round II which began from 4^th July, 2021 to 10^th July, 2021 with a total of 500 participants rebranded as Youth Peace Ambassadors graduating from the Youth Peace Camp. In Round I of the project, 1,711 (one thousand seven hundred and eleven) Youths from Bokkos, Mangu, and Pankshin were recruited to participate in 5 Youth Peace Camps. As a result of the successes recorded in the first round, a second round of the project was approved and extended to the two other Local Government Areas in the Central Zone (Kanam and Kanke). In Round II, 8 camps have been organized for youths drawn from Central Senatorial Zone (Bokkos, Mangu, Kanam, Kanke and Pankshin Local Government Areas) in batches of 500 per camp. A total of 5,597 (five thousand five hundred and ninety seven) youths have so far been trained in the second round of the project.

The Youth Peace Camp is a seven-day event which is designed to re-orientate vulnerable youths about their perception on violence from Plateau Central Senatorial Zone, encourage peaceful co-existence and tolerance for each other’s values; establish Youth Peace Corps in each of the wards of the 5 LGAs in order to discourage youth radicalization and violent extremism; prevent youth from engaging in extreme behaviour; and encourage peace building as well as peaceful conflict resolution in the area.

Throughout the camp, the youth engaged in sequence of trainings which were both physical and mental as well as lectures from experienced resource persons in the various subject areas. The lectures included topics such as: Towards De-radicalization of the youth: The Role of Religious Leaders; Youth as Agents of Non-violent Change in Nigeria; Role of Sports in Peace Building and National Unity; Extreme behaviour and Societal Harmony; Entrepreneurship Skills and Capacity Building for the youth, Communication: Effective Tool for Conflict and Rumor Management among others.

During these sessions, resource persons taught participants alternative ways to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence, importance of understanding and tolerance and the importance of effective communication to avoid conflicts. Through the physical drills, participants learnt core values of cooperation, unity, confidence and development of determination; all of which increased their sense of self-esteem, significance and value to themselves and their communities. This will go a long way in positively shaping their vision for themselves and their communities as agents of peace no longer available to be used to execute violence.

Having completed the camp, those who graduate  are inducted into Youth Peace Ambassadors Network. In camp VIII, 500 participants were inducted as Youth Peace Ambassadors. They are expected to be ambassadors of peace in their communities, to step down lessons learnt during camp, to initiate various community development activities to promote peaceful co-existence and tolerance. Also, through this forum, they are encouraged to carry out activities that are beneficial to their community, live exemplary lives and advice others to live peacefully with each other.

The Closing Ceremony of Youth Peace Camp VIII held on the 10^th of July, 2021. The Unit Coordinator, C&LTC, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Maimako, welcomed everybody present and particularly congratulated the participants who showed exemplary character during their training. He appreciated the organisers, IGSR and the sponsors GCERF for enlightening and encouraging the youths to become peace agents in their communities. He thanked them for their continuous commitment and dedication and urged the newly inducted Youth Peace Ambassadors to practice in their communities all they had learned as they returned home. Following the remarks by the Unit Coordinator, IGSR’s Director of Administration, Dr. Waheed Adedeji welcomed everyone to the closing ceremony and congratulated participants, accompanying officers, recruiters, stakeholders and IGSR staff for a successful camp. He appreciated the security personnel for their effort and maintaining a peaceful camp. He further asked participants to be faithful and diligent in stepping down all they had learned during the camp to their communities. After which the report was then read by the Unit Course Officer, Mr Fatai Adekunle who reported that all 500 participants qualified for their certificates.

There was a cultural dance presentation by participants who entertained guests by depicting the need for unity in order to attain development in the society. This was followed by 10 participants representing the 5 LGAs presenting a communiqué which summarized the lessons they had learnt during the camp with observations and recommendations. Some observations raised in the communiqué were; Families and communities need to intensify their efforts in raising responsible youth who are visionaries if they are to be useful to themselves and the society. Participants also noted that they lack counselling and rehabilitation centres for victims of crime. These are responsible for increasing radicalization and violent extremism in several parts of Nigeria, including Plateau State. They however resolved to use peaceful means to solve problems and grievances rather than resorting to violence. They will also let go of anger, pain, sadness and vengeance in order to live and propagate peace in their communities. Finally, the participants recommended that the government should bridge the huge deficit of their trust and communication so as to curtail the spread and impact of rumours, they also requested that the government should pay attention to capacity building and create soft loans and grants for youths.

Following the presentation of the communiqué, IGSR’s Project Manager, Ms Victoria Isawa-Elaigwu advised participants to be role models and be responsible, and not to relent in stepping down what they had learnt in camp in their communities. She also noted that young people have a larger role to play in the development of the country than perpetuating violence. The Senior Programme Officer IGSR, Mr Samuel Emelis gave the vote of thanks and encouraged participants to use the information they gained during the camp to maintain peaceful co-existence in their communities. Finally, the Project Manager, IGSR inducted the participants into the Youth Peace Ambassadors Network and declared the camp closed. After this, participants were issued certificates before departing to their respective LGAs.