The YEEP Alumni Nigeria has called for greater investment in peacebuilding, violence prevention and youth participation as the world marks the International Day of Peace 2026.
In a statement issued on Monday, September 21, under the theme, “Invest in Peace – For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day,” the group reaffirmed its commitment to building a peaceful, safe and inclusive Nigeria.
The group, made up of young Nigerians working on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), said peace should not be understood simply as the absence of violence, rather creating communities where people could live with dignity, express their views without fear, resolve differences through dialogue and feel a sense of belonging regardless of their religion, ethnicity, gender, location or background.
According to the network, Nigeria continues to face challenges linked to violence, insecurity, intolerance, hate, misinformation, division and the exploitation of differences.
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“These challenges remind us that peace cannot be treated as something we pursue only after violence has occurred. We must invest in prevention,” the statement partly read.
YEEP Alumni Nigeria noted that investing in peace meant investing in people, relationships, communities and systems capable of preventing grievances from escalating into violence.
The group further called for stronger dialogue, tolerance and respect, urging stakeholders to address exclusion, counter harmful narratives and create meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in decisions affecting their lives and communities.
Continuing, YEEP Alumni Nigeria said young people should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries of peace and security but as stakeholders and actors in peacebuilding.
“As young people, we recognize that we are not merely beneficiaries of peace and security. We are stakeholders and actors in building it,” the statement said, noting that young Nigerians across the country were already contributing to peacebuilding, community resilience, civic engagement and violence prevention, stressing the need to create more opportunities for youth leadership and meaningful participation.
While urging young Nigerians to be mindful of how their everyday actions could either reduce tensions or deepen divisions, the group advised young people to reject the normalisation of violence, hate and intolerance, verify information before sharing it, resist narratives that portray others as enemies and embrace dialogue, empathy and peaceful engagement.
YEEP Alumni Nigeria equally called on governments at all levels to increase investment in violence prevention, youth participation, community peacebuilding, early warning and early response, inclusive governance and the protection of human rights.
“As a national network of young people committed to preventing and countering violent extremism, YEEP Alumni Nigeria remains committed to advancing the Youth, Peace and Security agenda in Nigeria and to working with government, civil society, communities and other stakeholders to build a culture where peace is practiced every day.
“Peace is not somebody else’s responsibility. It is ours. Nigeria deserves a future where every person can live safely, freely and with dignity,” the statement added.