PAVE Network Unveils Northwest Community of Practice on Countering Violent Extremism
By Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna
http://www.newsportng.com.ng In a move to bolster regional efforts in combating violent extremism, the Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) Network on Monday inaugurated the North-West Community of Practice (CoP) on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) during a two-day meeting in Kaduna.
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).
Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, represented by Dr. Beji Gowal, reaffirmed the Institute’s unwavering support for the initiative. He urged participants to remain conscious of the human impact of their work, particularly on vulnerable populations affected by conflict and instability.
“As we deliberate, let us remember the children yearning for a future without fear, families pursuing stability, and communities desiring peace,” he said. “This gathering must reinforce our collective commitment to shaping a future anchored in justice and understanding.”
Also delivering a goodwill message, Muhammad Auwal Aminu, Staff Officer on PCVE at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), 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.
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 also warned about the growing radicalization 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 was the second in a series of regional fora aimed at galvanizing local peacebuilding efforts under the PCVE KIRH initiative.
He recalled that the inaugural meeting, held in December 2024, focused on evaluating Nigeria’s PCVE Policy Framework and National Action Plan. This latest edition, he said, centers on “Emerging Issues and Dynamics in Violent Extremism & PCVE in North-West Nigeria.”
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 groups from across the region and beyond.
