To reinforce community-led peacebuilding in the Niger Delta, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has inaugurated 90 young individuals as Peace Champions to support conflict monitoring and early response across the region.
The 2025 cohort, inaugurated during a two-day workshop held from May 22 to 23, 2025, in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, includes youth aged 18–35 from all nine Niger Delta states. The group reflects PIND’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, with participation from women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and 12 nominees from Chevron Nigeria Limited’s Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) in Delta and Ondo States.
Strengthening Local Capacity for Peace
The workshop equipped participants with skills in conflict analysis, peace advocacy, community engagement, and the use of PIND’s SMS-based Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) platform. A new feature—speech-to-text call reporting—was also introduced to expand accessibility and ease of use in remote areas.
Dr. Effiong Essien, PIND’s Acting Executive Director, underscored the importance of youth in building peace. “The Niger Delta cannot achieve sustainable development without peace,” he noted. “We proudly welcome 90 young peacebuilders who are stepping up to bridge divides and heal communities.”
PIND’s Peacebuilding Manager, David Udofia, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the role of the Peace Champions goes beyond training. “You are not just participants—you are front-line peace actors. Your continued vigilance and reporting are essential to a more stable and resilient Niger Delta.”
Enhancing Conflict Monitoring Through Technology
Peace Champions will actively contribute to PIND’s Integrated Peace and Development Unit (IPDU) by reporting emerging conflicts via the EWER platform. These reports feed directly into PIND’s Peace Map, providing real-time data to inform stakeholders’ responses and interventions.
The inclusion of representatives from key HCDT communities such as Warri Kingdom, Ogulagha-Ibe, Egbema, and Ugboland also supports Chevron’s goals of strengthening stability around oil and gas operations.
Impact and the Road Ahead
By the end of the training, participants demonstrated their ability to report incidents in real time, verify community alerts, and collaborate on local peacebuilding initiatives. PIND will support this cohort over the next 12 months through mentoring, coordinated field activities, and performance tracking.
Now in its fourth year, the Niger Delta Peace Champions initiative is part of PIND’s broader peacebuilding strategy. The program bridges the gap between technology-driven early warning systems and community-based action—ensuring that peace efforts are proactive, inclusive, and locally sustained.
PIND remains committed to empowering youth as catalysts for peace, enabling them to create a safer and more prosperous Niger Delta for all.
