🎯 From Conflict Drivers to Change Agents: Reimagining Youth in Peacebuilding

At the Heart of Conflict: Vulnerable Young People

In most societies, young people are at the forefront of driving conflict. This reality stems from their energy, numbers, and susceptibility to the social and political forces around them. Effective conflict resolution must therefore begin with a deep understanding of their perspectives while strategically shaping messages and interventions that resonate with their demographic. Without centering young people in peacebuilding, efforts risk overlooking a critical population that both fuels and can resolve conflict.

The Northern Nigerian Context

In Northern Nigeria, the situation is especially complex. Violent extremism is frequently carried out by young men and women in different forms—whether through insurgency, banditry, or participation in ethnic and religious clashes. These destructive ideologies are often instilled, manipulated, or reinforced by political and social authorities, as well as older figures of influence who exploit youth vulnerabilities for their own gain.

Unemployment, poverty, social exclusion, and lack of opportunity further deepen this vulnerability, leaving young people highly exposed to recruitment into terrorist groups and involvement in extreme religious, ethnic, and resource-based attacks.

Rethinking Peacebuilding: Culture as a Medium

Knowing this, it has become imperative to design peacebuilding strategies that are rooted in the language and media of popular culture. Traditional kinetic approaches to conflict resolution, though important, are often unable to penetrate the everyday realities of youth. Approaches such as film, social media engagement, group discussions, music, and storytelling must be employed deliberately and creatively.

These tools do not just resonate with young people—they provide accessible platforms where dialogue, empathy, and shared understanding can be cultivated.

Creative Tools for Change

• Film can visually narrate the dangers of violence and the possibilities of peace, leaving lasting impressions on its audience.
• Social media, with its broad reach and immediacy, offers opportunities for countering extremist narratives with relatable, youth-driven content.
• Group discussions create safe spaces where young people can voice their frustrations and solutions.
• Storytelling serves as a bridge between generations, values, and collective memory.

Final Thoughts: Youth as Architects of Peace

To build lasting peace, we must meet young people where they are—not just geographically, but culturally and emotionally. By integrating creative tools into peacebuilding efforts, we unlock new pathways for participation, empathy, and transformation. Projects like Delimi PROSPER are already demonstrating how film, storytelling, and community dialogue can shift narratives and empower youth to become architects of peace—not just subjects of conflict.

Let’s invest in their voices, amplify their stories, and co-create a future where resilience and coexistence are the norm.