Nigeria Needs Peace Education, Community Investment to Tackle Extremism – PAVE Network
The Chairman of the National Steering Committee of the Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) Network, Jaye Gaskia, has said Nigeria must invest more in peace education and community development if it truly wants to prevent and counter violent extremism.
Speaking at the two-day Media Capacity Building, Roundtable Dialogue, and Flag-Off of the Media in PCVE Network in Abuja, Gaskia stressed that violent extremism is not merely a security challenge but a developmental one.
He explained that while the military can contribute through non-kinetic approaches such as intelligence gathering and information operations, the core of PCVE lies in addressing the root causes of extremism—poverty, unemployment, inequality, and lack of opportunities in communities.
“Preventing violent extremism is not simply about a soft or non-kinetic military approach. It is about development. It is about addressing grievances and historical root causes that drive young people into extremism,” Gaskia said.
According to him, government must prioritize public investment in social infrastructure and livelihoods rather than over-relying on the defence sector. “When we spend the largest share of our budget on defence while neglecting development, we are essentially waiting for crises to erupt instead of preventing them,” he warned.
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The PAVE chair also argued that building state and community-level policing structures, backed by independent oversight and human rights safeguards, is crucial to reducing dependence on the military for internal security. He cautioned that militarisation of domestic law enforcement distracts the armed forces from their core responsibility of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
On peace education, Gaskia called for renewed investment in unity schools, NYSC, cultural exchange, and the teaching of history to foster tolerance and national cohesion. He said such initiatives, if depoliticised, could strengthen Nigeria’s social fabric against extremist narratives.
“The best way to sustain peace is to invest in peace education, cultural understanding, and building citizenship. Extremism feeds on division and neglect, and the antidote is inclusive development,” he added.
On his part, the Media Consultant for PCVE Network, Senator Iroegbu, cautioned reporters against sensationalising conflict stories.
Iroegbu, who acknowledged the power of the media both to inflame society and to promote peace and tranquillity, also appealed to peace and conflict reporters to exercise this power responsibly.
He further emphasised the need to draw a line between reporting on terrorist activities and inadvertently advancing the agenda of terrorists, stressing that publicity is the oxygen and lifeblood of terrorism.
While urging reporters to always be objective, factual, and balanced in their reporting, Iroegbu advised journalists to be sensitive to the cultural and religious nuances of the communities they cover.
The roundtable brought together media practitioners, civil society actors, and policymakers to strengthen communication strategies in countering violent extremism at national and community levels.
By PRNigeria
