The Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) Network has inaugurated the North-West Community of Practice (CoP) on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) as part of its activities in countering violence extremism in the region.
The Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, during the engagement in Kaduna reaffirmed the Institute’s unwavering support for the initiative.
Ochogwu encouraged the participants to remain conscious of the human impact of their work, particularly on vulnerable populations affected by conflict and instability.
Represented by Dr. Beji Gowal, the Director-General said, “As we deliberate, let us remember the children yearning for a future without fear, families pursuing stability, and communities desiring peace. “This gathering must reinforce our collective commitment to shaping a future anchored in justice and understanding.”
The Staff Officer on PCVE at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Muhammad Auwal Aminu, described the initiative as timely and strategic in addressing the rising threats in the region.
He commended the synergy between PAVE Network, ActionAid Nigeria, GCERF, and other actors, noting that their commitment to collaboration, innovation, and resilience offers a pathway to sustainable peace.
Also, the Chairman of PAVE Network’s Board of Trustees, Prof. Dung Pam Sha, expressed concern over evolving security challenges, including collaborations among bandits, insurgents, and kidnappers.
He warned about the growing radicalisation of displaced youth in IDP camps.
“There is a visible escalation of trans-border criminality contributing to insecurity,” he stated, stressing the need for adaptive and context-specific responses from peace practitioners.
Earlier, Chair of the PAVE Steering Committee and head of the KIRH Development and Management Team, Mr. Jaye Gaskia, explained that the event aimed at galvanizing local peacebuilding efforts under the PCVE KIRH initiative.
Gaskia explained that the Community of Practice is designed as a network of experts, institutions, and community stakeholders. Its objectives include fostering shared learning, mentoring, and dissemination of best practices in PCVE.
The forum brought together a cross-section of peacebuilders, researchers, government actors, and civil society organizations from across the region and beyond.
The engagement, which also served as an activation of the Knowledge Innovation and Resource Hub (KIRH) for the North-West zone, is supported by ActionAid Nigeria and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).