The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has concluded the second edition of the Arts & Culture Inter-Community Solidarity Activity, a week-long engagement held from August 18 th –23 rd , 2025, across Bayelsa and Delta States.
More than 2,000 participants including youth, women, persons with disabilities, traditional leaders, peace actors, and security stakeholders gathered to showcase culture as a bridge for reconciliation and trust-building. Communities across Nembe, Brass, and Southern Ijaw in Bayelsa and Ughelli North and Udu in Delta transformed public spaces into platforms for dialogue, music, and storytelling that strengthened grassroots peace efforts.Building Peace Through Culture
The initiative is part of the European Union–funded project “A Community-Centered
Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta,” implemented by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) in partnership with Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN).
The first edition in 2024 demonstrated the potential of cultural heritage as a unifying force, drawing communities together and sparking conversations around peace. The 2025 edition built on those successes, deepening the use of arts-based engagement to reduce conflict and foster peace and stability. Through performances in drama, dance, and music, participants openly discussed conflict drivers such as oil bunkering, artisanal refining, and cult-related violence while also identifying collective pathways for conflict prevention.Strengthening Collaboration and Inclusion
Representing PIND’s Executive Director Sam Daibo, Peacebuilding Manager David Udofia underscored the strategic importance of cultural approaches:
“The core objective of this project is to foster inclusive community security. Addressing social exclusion, unemployment, and environmental degradation is key to tackling the root causes of violence across our region.”
PIND’s Project Lead Etukudoh Faith reinforced the importance of continuity and inclusivity:
“Culture, when deliberately harnessed, becomes a unifying force. This year’s event built on the foundation laid in 2024, deepening our impact. We commend the communities for proudly showcasing their heritage as a tool for peace.”Community Voices for Peace
Across Delta, more than 1,000 participants joined from Ohoro and Agbarha (Ughelli North) as well as Ovwian and Otor-Udu (Udu LGA). In Bayelsa, over 1,200 participants came from Etieama/Agbakabiriyai/Igbeta Ewoama, Akakukama in Nembe, Igbomotoro and Opuama in Southern Ijaw, and Kotikiri/Kongho and Odioma in Brass Local Government Areas.
In Odioma, Chief Sunday Oto Ikpoki, Chairman of the Kingdom Council of Chiefs, praised the initiative:
“Using our cultural heritage to preach peace is a thoughtful initiative. Through PIND’s trainings, we are more conscious of what happens in our communities. We now work hand-in-hand with security agencies to prevent conflict.”Broader Impact: Linking Peace and Development
The Arts & Culture activity contributes directly to PIND’s mission of driving sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta through strategic partnerships and systemic interventions. Beyond promoting reconciliation, the initiative connects to PIND’s wider efforts in:
● Reducing poverty: By fostering safer, more stable communities, the initiative helps
create the conditions where livelihoods can grow and families can thrive.
● Enabling youth employment: The creative industries showcased through music,
dance, and drama provided a platform to show that alternative livelihoods and peace-oriented opportunities for young people are achievable.
● Supporting gender equality and social inclusion: Women, youth, and persons with disabilities were not just participants but active leaders, shaping the dialogues and cultural performances.Outcomes and Strategic Significance
This year’s activity reinforced PIND’s broader peacebuilding and development agenda by:
● Providing safe spaces for dialogue between divided communities and security actors.
● Empowering youth, women, and marginalized groups as leaders of peace.
● Promoting collective identity and reconciliation through cultural expression.
● Strengthening community resilience to address local drivers of violence.Looking Ahead: Culture as a Legacy of Peace
By embedding culture into peacebuilding, PIND and its partners are creating sustainable, community-driven models of reconciliation models that inspire trust, strengthen collaboration, and chart new pathways in the Niger Delta away from violence.
This initiative aligns with PIND’s vision to foster a strong legacy of sustainable peace
and development among communities in the Niger Delta. At its heart, the Arts & Culture Inter-Community Solidarity Activity is more than a festival it is a movement of communities uniting through heritage to secure lasting peace across the region.
