Peace Messaging Initiative in Northeast Nigeria and Border Areas

The Peace Messaging Initiative takes roots in the conflict-prone Northeast Nigeria and border areas. M4Pi, a non-governmental nonprofit organization, established this initiative to address the prevalent social, economic, and cultural issues which are impediment to peaceful coexistence. The project was funded by UNDP and implemented over a period of four months, from November 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020.

OBJECTIVE: The project aimed to sensitize the general public in northeastern Nigeria and the border towards attaining peace and peaceful coexistence. It used Dandal Kura Radio International as a platform to relay the messages.

MAIN ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS

The project outlined six outputs as radio products:

Jingles

Developed on the need for peaceful and united communities, broadcasted daily in both Hausa and Kanuri, mornings and evenings.

Town Hall

A forty-five-minute live studio discussion program on pre-selected topics in both Kanuri and Hausa anchored by expert resource persons.

Drama

A twenty-six-episode serialized storytelling designed to raise awareness on and promote conflict resolution, counter extremist narratives, and provide entertainment.

Public Service Announcement

Statements from important prominent personalities of various communities calling for peace, forgiveness, and integration.

Workshop

Planned to be organized towards the end of the campaign with various stakeholders but could not hold due to the outbreak of the global pandemic (Covid-19). However, funds were judiciously used for two extra or special town halls one each in Kanuri Hausa languages in both languages on Covid-19.

PARTNERSHIP

The project was a collaboration between M4Pi and UNDP, with Dandal Kura Radio International serving as the broadcasting platform.

IMPACT

The project has surely touched the hearts of people because most of the calls received from listeners dwell on forgiveness and peaceful coexistence. The drama was very successful such that arrangements have been made to have it stored on Viamo 3-2-1, an online story facility where one can easily access with their mobile phone listen to each and every episode in the languages of Kanuri and Hausa.