As the world marks the International Day of Peace 2026, The Kukah Centre joins communities, institutions and peacebuilders around the world in reaffirming that peace is not merely the absence of violence, but a condition that enables people and societies to live with dignity, security, opportunity and hope.
The theme for this year’s observance, “Investing in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day,” is a timely reminder that peace is neither automatic nor the responsibility of governments and institutions alone. The United Nations has emphasised that peace requires deliberate action, inclusive communities, dialogue, respect for human dignity and sustained investment in the conditions that allow people to live and prosper together.
For Nigeria, this message carries particular significance. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths, but managing that diversity requires institutions, leaders and citizens who recognise that political, ethnic, religious and social differences need not become sources of conflict. National peace is not an abstract aspiration. It determines whether children can go to school, businesses can operate, communities can thrive, citizens can participate in public life, and families can plan for their future with confidence.
For more than a decade, The Kukah Centre, through its role as Secretariat to the National Peace Committee (NPC), has supported efforts to strengthen a culture of dialogue and peaceful democratic competition. From the historic Peace Accord ahead of the 2015 General Elections to successive national and sub-national Peace Accords, the Committee has provided a platform through which political actors and other stakeholders can publicly commit themselves to peaceful conduct and the lawful resolution of political differences.
The Kukah Centre’s peacebuilding work also extends beyond the electoral space to strengthening the conditions for peace and resilience within communities. Through the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme, the Centre works to build stronger and safer communities through improved local security and accountable service delivery. The programme supports engagement with community security structures to strengthen collaboration, accountability, inclusiveness and responsiveness to the realities of the communities they serve.
These complementary areas of work reflect an important principle: peace must be built before it is needed. It requires sustained engagement with political parties and candidates, electoral institutions, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, the media and communities. It also requires stronger relationships between institutions and the communities they serve, accountable service delivery, dialogue, mediation, responsible communication and the willingness of stakeholders to address tensions before they escalate.
As Nigeria enters another significant period of political competition, this responsibility becomes even more important. Political parties and politicians have publicly committed themselves to issue-based campaigns and peaceful democratic competition. The Kukah Centre therefore calls on all political actors to give practical meaning to those commitments, not only in the language of campaign platforms, but in their speeches, rallies, media appearances, social media communications and interactions with supporters. Political competition must remain a contest over ideas, policies, leadership and the future of Nigeria. It must not become a contest in which inflammatory rhetoric, misinformation, hate speech, ethnic or religious mobilisation, intimidation or violence are used to secure political advantage. The responsibility for the words that are spoken, the messages that are amplified and the behaviour that is encouraged rests with those who choose to use them.
The same responsibility extends to political supporters and citizens. No political ambition should require the sacrifice of another Nigerian’s safety, dignity or livelihood. Citizens should resist attempts to turn communities against one another, verify information before sharing it, reject inducement and intimidation, and refuse to participate in violence in the name of political loyalty. The media also has a critical role in this effort. At a time when information can travel faster than facts can be verified, responsible journalism is an important component of national peace. Accurate reporting, verification, balanced political coverage and responsible treatment of inflammatory claims can help prevent misinformation from becoming a trigger for conflict.
Peace, however, cannot be reduced to what happens during elections. It is reflected in how neighbours resolve disagreements, how communities respond to difference, how institutions exercise authority, how security services engage with citizens, how leaders communicate with communities and how citizens treat one another. Peace is built in our homes, workplaces, schools, places of worship, communities and institutions every day.
This is why the 2026 International Day of Peace theme speaks directly to Nigeria’s present reality. To invest in peace is to invest in trust; to invest in dialogue is to strengthen our ability to resolve differences without violence; and to invest in accountable institutions and responsible citizenship is to invest in the stability and future of the country. Peace requires sustained attention not only when tensions are already visible, but through the everyday systems, relationships and institutions that shape how people experience security, justice and participation.
The Kukah Centre therefore calls on political parties, candidates, public institutions, the media, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, young people, women and every Nigerian to make peace a daily responsibility. The commitments made through the Peace Accord must continue to find expression in political conduct, public communication and civic behaviour throughout the electoral cycle. At the community level, efforts to strengthen accountable and inclusive security and service delivery must equally remain part of the work of building peaceful and resilient societies.
Nigeria does not need to agree on everything to live peacefully. We need the maturity and institutional commitment to disagree without destroying one another.
On this International Day of Peace, The Kukah Centre reaffirms its commitment to supporting the National Peace Committee, strengthening community resilience and promoting dialogue, trust, accountability and peaceful democratic participation across Nigeria.
Signed:
Fr. Atta Barkindo, Ph.D
Executive Director, The Kukah Centre
Head of Secretariat, National Peace Committee
Building Trust. Promoting Dialogue. Safeguarding Democracy.
Investing in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day
Peace is one of those words that almost everyone understands, yet very few societies pause to ask what it truly means in the everyday lives of their people.
As the world marks the 2026 International Day of Peace under the theme, “Investing in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day,” Nigeria must look beyond the conventional definition of peace as merely the absence of war, violence or physical conflict.
For the average Nigerian, peace is much more personal.
Peace is waking up in the morning without wondering whether your community will be attacked. It is sending a child to school without fear that the child may not return safely. It is travelling from one town to another without anxiety about kidnapping, banditry or armed robbery. It is going to the farm and returning home safely. It is being able to operate a small business without extortion, harassment or insecurity.
Peace is having food on the table.
Peace is having access to affordable healthcare.
Peace is being able to find decent work or earn a livelihood.
Peace is knowing that when your rights are violated, there is an institution that will listen, investigate and provide justice.
Peace is being able to disagree with your neighbour, colleague, religious leader, political party or government without becoming an enemy.
Peace is the assurance that one’s ethnic identity, religion, gender, political affiliation, geographical origin or social status will not determine whether one is treated as a full citizen.
In other words, peace is not merely the silence of guns; it is the presence of justice, security, dignity, opportunity, inclusion and hope.
Peace Begins With the Everyday Nigerian Experience
It is easy to discuss peace from conference halls, government offices and diplomatic platforms. But peace must ultimately be measured by the lived experience of citizens.
A mother struggling to feed her children may ask a very simple question: “What does peace mean to me if my family cannot afford food?”
A young graduate without employment may ask: “What does peace mean when I have education but no meaningful opportunity?”
A farmer who cannot safely access his farm may ask: “What does peace mean when insecurity has taken away my livelihood?”
A trader whose business is repeatedly disrupted may ask: “What does peace mean when I cannot predict tomorrow?”
A citizen who believes that justice depends on connections rather than law may ask: “What does peace mean when I cannot trust the system?”
These questions remind us that peace has economic, social, political, cultural, environmental and institutional dimensions.
A society may have no declared war and still be deeply unsettled.
Where citizens live in constant fear, peace is fragile.
Where injustice is normalised, peace is fragile.
Where poverty and exclusion systematically deny people opportunity, peace is fragile.
Where young people are mobilised as political weapons, peace is fragile.
Where misinformation and hate speech are allowed to spread unchecked, peace is fragile.
Where citizens lose confidence in institutions, peace is fragile.
And where political competition is treated as warfare rather than a contest of ideas, peace is extremely fragile.
Peace and the Politics of 2027
This conversation becomes particularly important as Nigeria approaches the 2027 General Election.
INEC’s current official election calendar lists the Presidential and National Assembly elections for 16 January 2027, placing the country firmly within an important period of political preparation and competition.
Elections are supposed to provide citizens with a peaceful mechanism for choosing their leaders. They should give Nigerians an opportunity to debate competing visions for the country, assess policies, ask difficult questions and peacefully transfer political authority through the ballot.
But elections can also expose existing social tensions.
Political differences can become ethnic differences.
Policy disagreements can become religious arguments.
Campaign rivalry can become personal hostility.
Online arguments can become offline confrontation.
Misinformation can become panic.
Political rhetoric can become incitement.
And ordinary citizens can become victims of conflicts they did not create.
This is why peace cannot be treated as an activity that begins a few days before Election Day.
Peace must be invested in before the campaign becomes heated, during the campaign, on Election Day and after the results are announced.
The Kukah Centre has similarly emphasised that peace must be built before it is needed, requiring sustained engagement among political parties, candidates, electoral institutions, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, the media and communities.
Political Competition Must Not Become a War
Nigeria does not need political uniformity.
Democracy requires disagreement.
Citizens have different political interests, ideological preferences, regional concerns and visions for the country. Political parties will compete. Candidates will challenge one another. Supporters will disagree.
That is normal.
The danger begins when political competition crosses the line into dehumanisation, intimidation and violence.
No candidate should encourage supporters to see political opponents as enemies who must be destroyed.
No political party should weaponise ethnicity or religion to mobilise hatred.
No influencer should manufacture or circulate information simply because it benefits a political camp.
No supporter should believe that loyalty to a candidate requires attacking another Nigerian.
And no election result should be considered so important that it justifies the destruction of lives, businesses, communities or national unity.
The responsibility is shared.
Political leaders must moderate their language.
Candidates must discipline their supporters.
Political parties must promote issue-based campaigns.
The media must verify before amplifying.
Religious and traditional leaders must discourage inflammatory mobilisation.
Civil society must monitor, document and speak out against threats to peaceful participation.
Security agencies must operate professionally, impartially and within the law.
And citizens must refuse to become instruments of political violence.
INEC itself has stressed that peaceful elections are a collective responsibility involving political parties, candidates, citizens, security agencies, media and civil society.
The Social Media Peace Challenge
There is another battlefield that Nigeria must not ignore: the digital space.
The smartphone has changed the way Nigerians receive political information. A rumour can travel across several states within minutes. A manipulated photograph can appear authentic. An old video can be presented as a current event. An impersonated account can be mistaken for an official source. Artificial intelligence can make fabricated audio, images and videos increasingly convincing.
The consequences can be serious.
A false message suggesting that violence has broken out in a particular community can frighten voters away from the polls. A fabricated statement attributed to a political candidate can provoke anger. Hate speech can deepen ethnic or religious suspicion.
Therefore, digital responsibility is now an essential component of peacebuilding.
Before forwarding a sensational political message, ask:
Is it true?
Who is the source?
Has it been independently verified?
What could happen if thousands of people believe it?
The responsible citizen is not the person who forwards information first. The responsible citizen is the person who understands that every click, post, comment, video and forwarded message can either reduce tension or increase it.
Peace Requires Justice and Accountable Institutions
It is also important not to place the entire burden of peace on ordinary citizens.
Citizens cannot manufacture institutional peace on their own.
Government has a responsibility to create conditions in which citizens feel protected and respected.
Security agencies must protect citizens without discrimination.
Courts must provide accessible and credible avenues for justice.
Electoral institutions must communicate clearly and consistently.
Political parties must obey electoral laws.
Public officials must be accountable.
Institutions must respond to grievances before they become crises.
Peace is strengthened when citizens believe that disputes can be resolved through legitimate institutions rather than through violence.
Indeed, INEC has emphasised the importance of rule-based electoral participation and the need for citizens to channel grievances through lawful mechanisms rather than illegal action.
Peace Must Include Women, Young People and Vulnerable Groups
A serious conversation about peace must also ask: Whose peace are we talking about?
Peace cannot be meaningful if women remain exposed to gender-based violence.
It cannot be meaningful if young people are treated principally as political foot soldiers rather than partners in governance.
It cannot be meaningful if persons with disabilities face barriers to participation.
It cannot be meaningful if internally displaced persons remain excluded from decisions affecting their lives.
It cannot be meaningful if minority communities feel permanently unheard.
Peace must therefore be inclusive.
Women must have meaningful roles in peacebuilding and political decision-making.
Young people must be given opportunities to contribute constructively to national development.
Persons with disabilities must enjoy full civic and electoral participation.
Communities affected by conflict must have a voice in rebuilding their future.
Peace for everyone means peace cannot be designed for some and endured by others.
Religious and Traditional Leaders Have a Special Responsibility
Nigeria’s religious and traditional institutions occupy an influential position in society.
A word from a respected religious or traditional leader can calm tension—or unintentionally intensify it.
At a time when political competition may increasingly intersect with ethnic and religious narratives, these leaders must consistently communicate a simple message:
Political disagreement is not a religious war.
Political competition is not an ethnic war.
A different political opinion does not make another Nigerian an enemy.
Traditional and religious leaders should use their platforms to promote dialogue, tolerance, truth, reconciliation and respect for human dignity.
The Media Must Choose Peace Without Abandoning Accountability
Peace journalism does not mean suppressing uncomfortable truths.
It does not mean protecting politicians from scrutiny.
It does not mean avoiding legitimate criticism.
Rather, responsible journalism means reporting facts accurately, providing context, avoiding unnecessary sensationalism and distinguishing verified information from allegations and rumours.
The media has a constitutional and democratic responsibility to hold power accountable.
But accountability and peace are not opposites.
A journalist can ask hard questions without inciting hatred.
A broadcaster can expose wrongdoing without dehumanising an entire community.
A newspaper can report electoral tensions without amplifying unverified claims.
The goal should be truth with responsibility.
What Should Political Parties and Candidates Do?
As the 2027 election approaches, every political party and candidate should make peace a measurable component of political conduct.
They should:
1. Commit publicly to non-violence before, during and after elections.
2. Reject ethnic, religious and regional incitement.
3. Promote issue-based campaigns focused on policies, programmes and records.
4. Discourage supporters from attacking opponents.
5. Establish internal mechanisms for de-escalating political disputes.
6. Avoid spreading unverified information online.
7. Respect electoral laws and lawful dispute-resolution mechanisms.
8. Accept legitimate outcomes while using lawful channels to challenge disputed processes or results.
9. Protect women, young people and other vulnerable groups from political exploitation and violence.
10. Ensure that the Peace Accord becomes a lived commitment rather than merely a document signed before cameras.
The National Peace Committee and The Kukah Centre have continued to emphasise dialogue, peaceful democratic competition and responsible conduct in Nigeria’s electoral process.
What Should Security Agencies Do?
The security architecture also has a critical role.
Citizens need security agencies that are professional, impartial, restrained and accountable.
Security must protect voters—not frighten them.
Security personnel must protect electoral officials and materials.
They must respond promptly to threats.
They must prevent political violence without becoming instruments of political actors.
And they must uphold citizens’ rights while enforcing the law.
Peaceful elections require not simply the presence of security personnel, but public confidence that security will be provided fairly and professionally.
And What About the Average Nigerian?
Ultimately, peace is everybody’s business.
The average Nigerian has more power than he or she may realise.
We can refuse to fight because of another person’s political preference.
We can refuse to share an unverified message.
We can challenge hate speech without responding with hate.
We can encourage our children to value tolerance.
We can report threats.
We can participate peacefully in elections.
We can respect queues and electoral officials.
We can vote according to our conscience.
We can disagree without violence.
We can hold our preferred candidate accountable.
And we can remind ourselves that after the election, we will still have to live together.
The politician may return to Abuja.
The candidate may return to his or her private life.
The campaign team may disband.
But the ordinary Nigerian will remain next door to the neighbour who supported another party.
We will continue to share markets, schools, roads, workplaces, churches, mosques, farms and communities.
That is why political differences must never be allowed to permanently destroy social relationships.
A National Call: Let Peace Become a Daily Practice
On this International Day of Peace, Nigeria should move from celebrating peace to practising peace.
Let political leaders invest in peace.
Let government invest in justice, security and accountable institutions.
Let INEC invest in credible communication and voter education.
Let security agencies invest in prevention, professionalism and community trust.
Let the media invest in verification and responsible reporting.
Let civil society invest in early warning, peacebuilding and civic education.
Let religious and traditional institutions invest in dialogue and reconciliation.
Let women and young people become active agents of peace.
Let technology companies, influencers and digital communities invest in information integrity.
And let every Nigerian understand that peace is not somebody else’s responsibility.
It begins with me.
Conclusion: The Nigeria We Want Must Be Peaceful Enough to Build
Nigeria’s greatest challenge is not that Nigerians disagree.
We will always disagree.
The real challenge is whether we can build institutions, relationships and civic habits that allow us to disagree without destroying one another.
The Nigeria we want cannot be built in an atmosphere of fear.
It cannot be built where children cannot safely attend school.
It cannot be built where businesses cannot operate.
It cannot be built where citizens are afraid to express their views.
It cannot be built where political opponents are treated as enemies.
It cannot be built where misinformation travels faster than truth.
And it certainly cannot be built where elections become triggers for violence.
Peace, therefore, is not a luxury to be pursued after development. Peace is one of the foundations upon which development, democracy and national prosperity depend.
As Nigeria approaches another defining electoral season, let us remember that the ballot box is not a battlefield.
The opponent is not the enemy.
Political disagreement is not a declaration of war.
Winning an election is not worth losing Nigeria.
Let us invest in peace—not only on International Day of Peace, not only during elections, and not only when crisis is imminent, but for everyone, everywhere, every day.
Let political leaders speak peace.
Let institutions deliver justice.
Let the media report responsibly.
Let influencers verify before they amplify.
Let security agencies protect impartially.
Let religious and traditional leaders build bridges.
Let civil society keep watch.
Let young people reject political violence.
Let women lead and participate.
Let citizens choose their leaders peacefully and defend democracy peacefully.
And let every Nigerian make the personal commitment:
I will not be used to destroy the peace I need to live.
I will disagree without hatred.
I will verify before I share.
I will reject violence.
I will respect the humanity of every Nigerian.
Because, ultimately, peace is not merely the absence of conflict. Peace is the freedom to live, work, worship, speak, vote, dream and raise a family without fear.
That is the peace the average Nigerian deserves.
That is the peace every stakeholder must protect.
And that is the peace every Nigerian must help build.