Global Peace Advocate Steve Killelea Holds High-Level Talks in Abuja on Sustainable Peace
Global peace advocate and founder of the Institute for Economics and Peace, Mr Steve Killelea, has conducted a significant high-level meeting with the Conflict Research Network West Africa to advance practical and actionable pathways for sustainable peace in Nigeria and across the broader West African region. The crucial meeting, which took place in Abuja, brought together top officials from the host organisation, including the IEP Country Representative, Mr Roy Nwafor; the SPRiNG Team Lead, Prof. Ukiwo Ukoha; Mr Obinna Chukwuezie; and Ms Lara Raji of CORN West Africa.
Focus on Data-Driven and Community-Driven Peacebuilding Approaches
Deliberations during the meeting concentrated intensely on strengthening the utilisation of data, local knowledge, and community-driven approaches to prevent conflict and build resilience effectively. Participants thoroughly examined how positive peace frameworks can better serve Nigeria's peacebuilding priorities by aligning global insights with local realities and on-the-ground conditions. The discussion strongly emphasised the urgent need for credible, real-time data that accurately reflects lived experiences within communities, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected areas where accurate information is most critical.
Insights from Key Participants on Local Perspectives and Peace Metrics
Speaking during the meeting, the Associate Director at CORN West Africa, Mr Obinna Chukwuezie, noted that while global peace frameworks provide a valuable framework for understanding broader conflict trends, significant gaps remain in capturing local perspectives and nuanced community dynamics. He elaborated that localised peace metrics, when combined with strong and compelling narratives, can powerfully influence behaviour, shape public discourse constructively, and support more responsive and evidence-based policymaking at all levels of governance.
Killelea, in his detailed remarks, underscored the profound economic and social value of peace, stressing emphatically that countries which strengthen the institutions and attitudes that sustain peace are better positioned for long-term growth, stability, and overall prosperity. He highlighted the interconnectedness between peace and development, arguing that sustainable peace is a foundational prerequisite for economic advancement and social cohesion.
Highlighting Key Initiatives: NPAID and National Peace Web
Prof. Ukiwo Ukoha highlighted the immense significance of the NPAID initiative, led by CORN West Africa, describing it as a vital and indispensable tool for understanding complex patterns of both violence and resilience across different contexts. He explained comprehensively that tracking peace efforts across governments, communities, security institutions, and civil society organisations would help identify what truly works in preventing conflict and fostering sustainable peace. According to him, building robust evidence around successful peace interventions would not only deepen understanding but also encourage the strategic replication of effective strategies across different geographical and cultural contexts.
Ms Lara Raji pointed specifically to the National Peace Web as a strategic and innovative platform for meticulously documenting peace actions, key actors, and community-level mechanisms that actively sustain stability. She explained that the platform provides invaluable real-time insights that complement global indices and significantly strengthen the overall evidence base for peacebuilding efforts, enabling more targeted and effective interventions.
