The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has commenced activities to celebrate its 25th anniversary with renewed calls for stronger collaboration among government, civil society, international partners, and especially the private sector to advance peace and stability in Nigeria and Africa.
The celebration, which coincided with the 2025 International Day of Peace, commenced with a world press conference addressed by the Director General of the Institute, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu.
At the World Conference, the Director General of the Institute said the anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on IPCR’s journey over the past two and a half decades and to recommit to its founding vision of promoting proactive conflict prevention and sustainable peace-building.
Dr. Ochogwu emphasised that the theme of this year’s International Day of Peace, “Act Now for a Peaceful World”, resonates strongly with the realities of Nigeria and the continent.
He warned that peace cannot be postponed, delegated, or taken for granted.
According to him, the imperative to act now reflects the reality that peace requires immediate, sustained, and coordinated action from individuals, institutions, and nations.
He said that conflicts across the globe, as well as the challenges to social cohesion within Nigeria’s communities, remind everyone that peace-building is an urgent task.
He identified key conflict triggers in Nigeria, such as insurgency, banditry, communal clashes, electoral violence, political instability, and ethnic and religious tensions.
These issues, he said, demand innovative approaches that draw from all sectors of society.
Established in 2000 under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IPCR has evolved into a centre of excellence for peace and conflict resolution.
Peace practitioners
Over the years, the Institute has trained thousands of peace practitioners and mediators across government, civil society, traditional institutions, and faith-based groups.
It has intervened in major conflict zones ranging from farmer-herder crises in the Middle Belt to electoral violence prevention efforts during multiple election cycles to de-escalation initiatives in Nigeria’s Northeast and Northwest.
Peace-building frameworks
IPCR has also strengthened policy and research capacity by producing strategic conflict assessments, policy briefs, and analysis reports that have informed government strategies and international peace-building frameworks.
It has facilitated mediation and reconciliation efforts that helped restore peace in divided communities and resolve boundary disputes while promoting sustainable dialogue mechanisms.
Beyond Nigeria, the Institute has influenced regional and international frameworks, with its early warning system contributing to the African Union’s and ECOWAS’s own early warning centers.
These achievements, coupled with partnerships forged with the AU, ECOWAS, the United Nations, and civil society organizations, have positioned IPCR as a key player in continental peace initiatives.
Dr. Ochogwu described these milestones as proof that sustained investment in peace-building yields long-term dividends for stability and development.
While acknowledging the role of government and multilateral institutions, he stressed that the private sector must play a more active role in peace-building.
He said that after women and children, the next victims of conflict are businesses. This, he explained, is why the organised private sector must see investment in peace not as charity, but as a safeguard for their own sustainability.
The Director General also underscored the role of the media as both a potential driver of conflict and a crucial partner in promoting peace.
He urged journalists to adopt conflict-sensitive reporting, balance narratives, and amplify voices of tolerance and reconciliation.
To mark its Silver Jubilee, IPCR also launched new initiatives that link peace with broader social issues.
Among these are a sports-for-peace and mental health clinic, which combines physical activity with mental health support to tackle trauma and promote community resilience.
There were also interfaith prayer sessions at the National Mosque and the Ecumenical Centre, bringing together Christians and Muslims to pray for peace in Nigeria and globally. The anniversary week will be rounded off with a peace walk and commemorative lecture designed to engage the public in visible acts of solidarity for peace.
Prioritise conflict prevention
As part of his anniversary message, Dr. Ochogwu called on government at all levels to prioritise conflict prevention and adopt inclusive, conflict-sensitive development policies.
He urged civil society organisations to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and partnerships while tasking religious and traditional leaders with promoting tolerance and reconciliation within their communities.
He added that peace must begin with individual choices and actions, stressing that the next 25 years will test the nation’s resolve but can also provide opportunities to build a more secure and peaceful society.