2026 Northern Nigeria Peace Campaign

The 2026 Northern Nigeria Peace Campaign is a multi‑stakeholder initiative launched by the Global Peace Ambassador, Zubairu Dalhatu Malami, to promote peace, unity, and community resilience across the 19 Northern States in Nigeria and the FCT. The campaign is coordinated by the Africa Peace Reform Initiative (APRI) in partnership with the Global Peace Chain, AUDA‑NEPAD Nigeria, Zamkah Technologies Limited, a peace consultant company with the IPCR Nigeria, and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR Nigeria).

Background

Northern Nigeria has faced persistent challenges related to insecurity, religious violence, youth vulnerability, rural‑urban migration, and social fragmentation. In recent years, the region has witnessed a sharp rise in banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and other violence‑related activities, which have disrupted livelihoods and weakened social cohesion.

In response to these realities, Global Peace Ambassador Zubairu Dalhatu Malami and other partners designed the 2026 Northern Nigeria Peace Campaign to mobilize communities, empower marginalized groups, and strengthen traditional institutions in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

Governance

The campaign is overseen by an Implementation Committee, chaired by Ambassador Zubairu Dalhatu Malami, with Rumaisa Khalid serving as vice chairperson and Ambassador Nafisa Sani Adamu as secretary. The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) provides legal and institutional oversight as the government body responsible for the promotion of peace in Nigeria. Other partners — including Zamkah Technologies Limited, AUDA‑NEPAD Nigeria, and the CORAL Charitable Foundation, led by Hon. Fatima Yahaya Emilugi, who is currently the Vice Chairperson of Lavun Local Government Area, Niger State — contribute advisory frameworks to strengthen program design, monitoring, and stakeholder engagement.

Activities

Since its launch, the campaign has engaged with traditional institutions, state governments, and civil society organizations through courtesy visits to emirate councils such as the Kano Emirate Council, strategic meetings with ministries and commissioners in Kano State and Jigawa State and other northern states, and the planning of community service drives, mentorship programs, and ICT‑based peace initiatives designed to strengthen resilience and promote social cohesion across Northern Nigeria.

Digital peace promotion

In addition to physical outreach, the 2026 Northern Nigeria Peace Campaign actively promotes peace through digital platforms. Recognizing the power of media and technology in shaping public opinion, the campaign leverages online channels to condemn acts of violence, express solidarity with victims, and amplify messages of unity and resilience.

A notable example was the condemnation of the Gamboru Market explosion, where Global Peace Ambassador Zubairu Dalhatu Malami issued a public statement expressing deep sympathy for the victims and calling for collective action against insecurity. This digital intervention not only demonstrated compassion but also reinforced the campaign's commitment to using technology and media as tools for peacebuilding.

Through social media, press releases, and online forums, the campaign seeks to raise awareness about insecurity and its impact on communities, promote solidarity by publicly supporting victims of violence and their families, counter misinformation with credible peace narratives, engage youth and women in digital advocacy for peace, and strengthen Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) systems by integrating digital reporting and monitoring tools.

By combining traditional peacebuilding methods with digital advocacy, the campaign ensures that its message of peace reaches both grassroots communities and wider national and international audiences.

Partnerships

The campaign collaborates with:

  • Africa Peace Reform Initiative (APRI) – parent NGO
  • CORAL Charitable Foundation – supporting NGO
  • Global Peace Chain – international peace network
  • AUDA‑NEPAD Nigeria – African Union development agency
  • Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR Nigeria) – federal peace research body
  • Zamkah Technologies Limited – technology partner for EWER systems

Reception

The initiative has received endorsements from traditional institutions, including the Kano Emirate Council, and is seeking support from philanthropists, government agencies, and development partners to expand its reach.