National Peace Centers Development Program, NPCD

 The National Peace Centers Development Program, NPCD, is a program designed by the Commonwealth Association of Non-Governmental Organisations CANGO and Development Clinic International, DECI, an NGO based in Kaduna Nigeria and Chicago USA to strengthen the national and local capacities for peace and conflict resolution in Nigeria. These centres would on completion become semi-autonomous units of the CANGO/Development Clinic’s International and called “Peace Centre Development Foundation”.

 Rationale For the Peace Centre:

With the spate of crises that have rocked Kaduna, Jos, Zaki Biam, Odi, Kano, Warri, the Niger Delta and various parts of Nigeria in recent times, especially in the last two decades, the need for a strategic approach to conflict resolution by the promotion and establishment of peace research and education infrastructure in the States and country in an innovative long-term way, has become imperative.

The short term interventionist approaches of the past, though useful, are not sufficient in the light of the challenges for sustainable peace in Nigeria in the face of intermittent eruptions of violent conflicts in the country in recent times. The project aims at establishing three peace centres in Kaduna, Abuja and Port Harcourt as its strategic response to the challenge of internalizing and accelerating peace education culture and research ethos in the mainstream of the Nigerian Society.

NPCDP Program Mission

The mission of the National Peace Centers Development Program NPCDP is “to build infrastructure for sustainable peace, peace research, peace and conflict studies and conflict resolution in Nigeria and around the world.”

 NPCDP Program Objectives

1. To construct peace centers in targeted localities, communities, hotspots, nationwide and worldwide.

2.  To develop curricula for inclusion into all levels of education

3. carry out researches on peace and conflict prevention and resolution

4. Conduct training, symposia and organize conferences and workshops to develop skills

5. Establish and promote Youth Peace Clubs

6. Provide greater public access to information on peace and conflict resolution and tofacilitate multidisciplinary and multi-track interventions and approaches to conflict management and peace promotion.

Each Centre established shall have the following objectives: For example the pilot project Kaduna Peace Centre has the following general goals which it shares with other centres but with specialized focus on its target areas.

 Kaduna Peace Centre’s General Goals

1. To domesticate peace research, peace education in Kaduna and Nigeria and promote conflict resolution ethos in Nigeria

2. To provide infrastructural facilities for peace education and research, and conflict resolution

3. To mobilise private sector participation in peace promotion and conflict resolution

4. To establish a sustainable platform for cross religions, ethnic and political interaction and multi-sectoral approach to peacekeeping, peacemaking and peace promoting.

5. To Print and publish posters, handbills and pamphlets to highlight the need for peaceful coexistence.

6. To increase participation of civil society in strengthening democratic values, peace promotion, peace education, conflict resolution and prevention. >>> More

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