A bold step for peace through schooling
From July to December 2024, Dr Manu Lekunze of the University of Aberdeen turned the quiet town of Ilorin into a hub for peace‑building. Partnering with the Office of the First Lady of Kwara State and the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, he helped chart a roadmap that positions schools at the heart of national security.
The resulting Education for Peace Strategy spells out clear goals: embed conflict‑resolution skills in curricula, train teachers to spot early signs of social tension, and create community projects that give youths a stake in local development. The blueprint doesn’t stay on paper – it comes with a timeline, budget lines, and measurable indicators so the ministry can track progress.
On December 11, 2024, the strategy was officially launched in Ilorin. Dr Lekunze stood alongside Kwara’s Commissioner for Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo‑Kawu, and the First Lady, Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, to unveil a plan that promises to reshape how the state views education – not just as a path to jobs, but as a shield against violence.
Immediately after the launch, the professor led an intensive workshop for 160 education administrators and teachers. The two‑day session was anything but lecture‑heavy; participants broke into groups, role‑played community mediation scenarios, and drafted lesson‑plan modules that they could roll out in the upcoming term. By the end of the training, many said they felt equipped to turn classrooms into safe spaces where disputes are resolved before they spill onto the streets.
Dr Lekunze also addressed the forum of Nigerian Education Commissioners, reminding senior officials that peace is a shared responsibility and that teachers are frontline peacekeepers. He argued that research only makes a difference when it reaches the people who can act on it – a sentiment echoed by the Commissioner, who noted that “no society can achieve its development goals without lasting peace and security.”
The initiative’s funding came from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) via the DEPA Project at the Open University. That backing not only covered the strategy’s development but also funded the training materials, travel for local consultants, and a small grant for pilot projects in three pilot schools.
Stakeholder support was palpable. Traditional rulers, school proprietors, and even a handful of students gathered for the launch, signaling broad buy‑in. The First Lady’s office, in particular, pledged ongoing logistical assistance, ensuring that the teachers’ training doesn’t become a one‑off event.
Looking ahead, Dr Lekunze said the university will keep providing technical assistance. He envisions a cascade model: teachers train students, students lead community projects, and the outcomes feed back into policy tweaks. In his words, “education is the foundation of the values and knowledge people need to live peacefully.”
While the strategy’s long‑term impact will only become clear over years, the momentum generated in those six months signals a shift in how Kwara State views the link between learning and security. As the rollout begins in schools across the state, educators, officials, and community leaders will be watching closely to see whether the promise of peace through education can become a reality.
