SPSP Inducts 50 Peace Practitioners As Nigeria Seeks Stronger Community Conflict Resolution
•By Admin
LAGOS — THE Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) has inducted more than 50 new members, expanding the network of trained professionals working to strengthen conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts across Nigeria.
The induction ceremony, held on March 13, 2026, marked the completion of a two-week intensive training programme designed to equip participants with practical skills in mediation, conflict management and community-based peacebuilding.
The new members include officers from the armed forces, university lecturers, security experts and professionals from various organisations committed to promoting peace and stability in communities.
The programme focused on empowering participants to address conflicts at the grassroots level, where many disputes often originate before escalating into wider security challenges.
Experts in peace and conflict studies led participants through interactive sessions on conflict analysis, mediation strategies, negotiation techniques and dialogue facilitation.
The training was led by renowned peace studies scholar Olawale Albert, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of peace studies in Nigeria.
Prof. Albert and other facilitators engaged the participants in extensive discussions aimed at strengthening their capacity to identify potential conflicts early and promote peaceful resolution within communities.
Observers noted that the programme comes at a crucial time for Nigeria, which continues to grapple with security challenges including communal clashes, insurgency and other forms of violence in different parts of the country.
Before the formal induction, participants were required to present position papers on mediation, analysing conflict scenarios and proposing practical solutions based on the principles learned during the training.
The induction ceremony was conducted by the Secretary of the society, Tor Tsuwa, who administered the oath of membership after the presentations.
According to the organisers, the practical assessment was designed to ensure that participants not only understand the theory of conflict resolution but are also capable of applying mediation techniques in real-life situations.
Speaking during the ceremony, the President of SPSP, Adeniran Aluko, congratulated the new members and urged them to make effective use of the skills acquired during the training.
He challenged the inductees to play active roles in promoting peace within their communities and professional environments.
According to him, sustaining peace requires continuous commitment and the willingness to engage in dialogue and mediation where conflicts arise.
Expanding Nigeria’s Peacebuilding Network
The induction is part of SPSP’s broader effort to strengthen a national network of peace practitioners capable of supporting conflict prevention and resolution across the country.
Experts say initiatives such as the training and induction programme are vital in addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges, as sustainable peace often requires community engagement and dialogue alongside formal security measures.
With the addition of the new members, the society hopes to expand its impact by supporting local mediation initiatives, community dialogue and reconciliation processes aimed at preventing conflicts and fostering long-term stability.