Building Blocks for Peace

Founded in 2016, a network of youth working on Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding in Africa.

Email: [email protected]

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

𝐁𝐁𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐝 “𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞: 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚”

We are happy to share with our supporters and partners the narrative report of our efforts in 2025. In the words of our executive director, 'I am very proud as the Executive Director of Building Blocks for Peace Foundation, to share how our collective resilience, partnerships and commitment have shaped milestones that continue to define our journey forward.

At the beginning of the year 2025, which was themed ‘Consolidating Peace: Advancing the Implementation of Youth, Women Peace and Security Agenda’, we had committed and set out to increase our support for youth and women building blocks for peace across communities in Nigeria and beyond. This report shows that we kept our commitment.

From Brussels to Banjul, Nairobi to Bishoftu, Kampala to The Hague, Oslo to Addis Ababa, Niamey to Amman, Freetown to Accra, Ibadan to Makurdi we worked alongside local and international stakeholders, shaping policies, empowering youth, amplifying youth and women’s voices, and celebrating their resilience.

Download report here

https://t.co/d9eKQvd2dG

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

𝗣𝗼𝗲𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝘆𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗣𝗦 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮

At the National Conference on Youth, Peace and Security in Nigeria organised by @bbforpeace, in conjunction with @IpcrNigeria, @fmydNG, and supported by @ng_youthfund and @gnwp_gnwp, Gentle Myke articulated #peace through spoken words.

Read below and watch the video to hear the full poem:

“Peace is not being weak, it’s being wise.
It’s standing for the truth instead of taking sides.
It’s refusing to pull the trigger when you hold the pistol.
It’s knowing that you can kill and make-alive by your words and epistles."

#NigeriaYouth4Peace #TheNigeriaWeWant #NigeriaYouthFuturesFund

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

“… sustained peace cannot be achieved without placing youth at its centre.”

An extract from the Goodwill Message delivered by the Representative of the DG, IPCR at the National Conference on Youth, Peace and Security in Nigeria.

This conference was convened by @bbforpeace, @IpcrNigeria, @fmydNG, with support from @ng_youthfund and @gnwp_gnwp.

Catch the complete message in the video below.

#NigeriaYouth4Peace #TheNigeriaWeWant #NigeriaYouthFuturesFund

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

During the national conference on YPS in Nigeria organised by @bbforpeace, in collaboration with @IpcrNigeria, @fmydNG, and supported by @ng_youthfund, and @gnwp_gnwp, the representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development encouraged all stakeholders to actively engage and support the implementation of the Nigerian National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security.

In her words, “Achieving meaningful progress in Youth, Peace and Security requires strong collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, and youth-led initiatives.”

See the video for the full message.

#NigeriaYouth4Peace #TheNigeriaWeWant #NigeriaYouthFuturesFund

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗕𝗕𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗘𝗗 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗣𝗦 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮

"... Young people are often portrayed only as victims of violence or instruments of instability. But that narrative is incomplete and unfair.

Across this country, young people are also leading mediation efforts, countering hate speech, promoting social cohesion, preventing violence, supporting humanitarian responses, and building bridges across divided communities.

This is precisely why the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security is so important and relevant to Nigeria at this moment..."

This conference was organised by @bbforpeace in partnership with @IpcrNigeria, @fmydNG, and supported by @ng_youthfund, and @gnwp_gnwp.

Watch the full remarks in this video.

#NigeriaYouth4Peace #TheNigeriaWeWant #NigeriaYouthFuturesFund

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

𝗕𝗕𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵, 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮

On May 26, 2026, @bbforpeace organised its 1st National Conference on Youth, Peace and Security in Nigeria.

Across Nigeria, young people continue to implement community-based peacebuilding, social cohesion, civic engagement, and violence prevention initiatives. Yet, their contributions are often under-recognised and insufficiently integrated into national and sub-national policy conversations.

In response to this, @bbforpeace, in partnership with the @IpcrNigeria, @fmydNG, and supported by the @ng_youthfund organised a National Conference on Youth, Peace and Security themed ‘Bridging Policy and Practice: Multistakeholder Engagement in the Implementation of YPS frameworks in Nigeria, a strategic one-day convening under the “Youth Actions for Peace project.”

The conference created a platform for assessment of the national implementation of Youth, Peace and Security and associated policy frameworks. It mobilised actors' commitment, amplified youth voices, and strengthened youth-led contributions to peace and security policy discussions in Nigeria, in line with the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security.

See picture highlights below!

#NigeriaYouth4Peace #TheNigeriaWeWant #NigeriaYouthFuturesFund

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

“You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” Malcolm X

Did you know?

Peace and Freedom Walk Hand in Hand!

At @bbforpeace, we believe that true peace cannot exist without freedom. Every individual deserves the right to live without fear, oppression, or injustice.

Freedom gives us the space to breathe, to dream, and to thrive—and only then can #peace truly flourish.

As we begin this new week, let’s continue to raise our voices, build bridges, and stand together for a world where both peace and freedom are not privileges, but rights.

Wishing you a 3peaceful and prosperous week ahead!

#MondayMotivation #Yes2Peace #PeopleBuildingPeace

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

Welcome to JUNE!

As we step into this new month, may peace surround you, hope uplift you, and love guide your path.

At @bbforpeace, we believe that every new month is a fresh opportunity to spread kindness, build unity, and inspire positive change in our communities.

Let’s walk together in harmony, creating lasting impact and shining light wherever we go.

Wishing you a month filled with joy, growth, and endless possibilities!

#HappyNewMonth

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐂𝐏𝐒) 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚

This month, Building Blocks for Peace Foundation's program officer on Climate, Peace and Security, Mr Samson Shabu, shared our experiences with the Skylark Centre for Climate Security for the May 2026 Edition of its Climate and Peace Dispatch.

The interview highlights how climate change and insecurity in West Africa reinforce one another, creating a cycle that deepens fragility, undermines livelihoods, and fuels local instability.

Climate pressures interact with poverty, weak governance, and insecurity to intensify competition over land and water, drive displacement, and increase farmer–herder tensions across the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, and coastal West Africa. Environmental stress also creates opportunities for armed groups to exploit local grievances and governance gaps, further weakening community resilience.

Drawing from field experience, the interview emphasises that communities are often the first responders to climate-security risks.

The interview also outlines how Building Blocks for Peace Foundation integrates CPS risks into its programming through conflict-sensitive climate adaptation, youth engagement, community-based resilience initiatives, and early-warning systems.

At the same time, it highlights persistent challenges, including fragmented climate and conflict data, weak coordination between environmental, development, and security actors, and limited funding for long-term monitoring and local early-warning mechanisms. While governments and regional organisations such as ECOWAS increasingly recognise climate change as a threat multiplier, implementation remains uneven due to institutional constraints, political instability, and siloed governance approaches.

The interview concludes that stronger regional coordination, sustained investment in community-based resilience, and more inclusive decision-making processes will be essential to addressing climate-security risks across West Africa.

You can read the full interview here:

https://t.co/yA3fRf738l

#climatepeaceandsecurity #climpse #peoplebuildingpeace #Nigeria

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

Join an interdisciplinary and practice-oriented dialogue on the climate, peace, and security nexus, either in-person at the Rewley House, University of Oxford or online, on 5 June at 2 p.m. BST.

Climate change is not only an environmental or developmental challenge; it is rapidly reshaping the global security landscape in ways that are complex, non-linear, and deeply interconnected. Its implications are highly diverse, operating less as a direct cause of conflict than as a threat multiplier that exacerbates existing political, economic, and social vulnerabilities.

In conflict-affected and post-conflict settings, climate stress places additional pressure on fragile livelihoods and resource systems, with harmful consequences for food, water, and energy security. These pressures often emerge in contexts where public institutions are already unable to meet basic needs, compounding governance deficits and eroding social cohesion. As a result, climate change can deepen grievances and directly affect the capacity to sustain, reinforce, and build peace, while also reshaping the dynamics of peacebuilding itself.

At the same time, insecurity contributes to the climate crisis. Modern warfare devastates infrastructure and ecosystems, and entire regions risk becoming environmental sacrifice zones, underscoring the entanglement of climate and security.

These dynamics challenge traditional, state-centric notions of security and point towards the need for more integrated approaches that incorporate human security, environmental justice, and locally grounded perspectives.

During this hybrid event, panellists and speakers will:
🎤 introduce the complexity of the climate, peace, and security nexus,
🎤 illustrate how grassroots actors, peacebuilders, and academics are complementing state-led approaches through human security, environmental justice and locally grounded perspectives.

🔗 Registration is required for both in-person and online participation. Please register here: https://t.co/Qm4JzStekX

This hybrid event is organised as part of Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict's Climate, Peace, and Security (CLIMPSE) Project, co-funded by the European Union and the United Nations Association of Mongolia (UNA Mongolia), with support from the Diplomatic Studies Programme, University of Oxford.

#peoplebuildingpeace #climatepeaceandsecurity

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

Eid Mubarak to all our Muslim brothers and sisters.

We pray that the lessons of sacrifice, trust, mercy, love and compassion associated with the Eid-Adha celebration remain with us all.

From all of us at Building Blocks for Peace Foundation, we wish you a joyous celebration.

#NigeriaYouth4Peace #PeopleBuildingPeace

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

Watch the full conversation at the National Conference on Youth, Peace and Security in Nigeria

https://t.co/9tdSjiT55i

#NigeriaYouth4Peace #PeopleBuildingPeace

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗡 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗢𝘆𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲

The West African Youth Protection and Advocacy Network (WAYPAN) is deeply saddened and outraged by the recent kidnapping of school children and teachers in the Oriire area of Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria.

WAYPAN strongly condemns this cowardly and reprehensible attack on innocent Nigerians, particularly school children whose only aspiration is to learn and build a better future. This heinous act represents a direct assault on the rights of young Nigerians to live in peace and access education in a safe and secure environment.

@waypanregional Secretariat is hosted at @bbforpeace.

Watch this video for more!

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗡 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗢𝘆𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲

The West African Youth Protection and Advocacy Network (WAYPAN), @waypanregional, is deeply saddened and outraged by the recent kidnapping of school children and teachers in the Oriire area of Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria.

WAYPAN strongly condemns this cowardly and reprehensible attack on innocent Nigerians, particularly school children whose only aspiration is to learn and build a better future. This heinous act represents a direct assault on the rights of young Nigerians to live in peace and access education in a safe and secure environment.

WAYPAN Secretariat is hosted at @bbforpeace.

Read the press statement in the links below:

https://t.co/U7M42MVBYa

https://t.co/y7dZkjJSaM

https://t.co/82enKomekp

Oyo Abduction: Nigeria under siege, govt overwhelmed — Youth Network https://t.co/t7hgzT7t9X.

Oyo school kidnapping: WAYPAN urges FG to address socio-economic drivers of insecurity - Blueprint Newspapers Limited https://t.co/bY6HwCjeVn

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁! 🎉🎉

Today we celebrate the dedication, passion, and impact you bring to the works we do at @bbforpeace.

May this new year bring you joy, strength, and even greater milestones in your journey in life.

Wishing you a wonderful birthday filled with #peace, love, laughter, and endless possibilities.

Happy birthday, @mhyde42!

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝘂𝗻𝘀 - 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.

At @bbforpeace, we are empowering women who are leading the way by:

🌍 Rebuilding trust in fractured communities
🕊️ Driving reconciliation through dialogue
💪 Championing policies that protect the vulnerable

For us, we believe that when women shape peace, societies become stronger, fairer, and more secure.
✨ Let’s move from conflict to collaboration.
✨ Let’s center women in every peace process.
✨ Let’s build security that lasts.

We count on your support!

#WomenPeaceSecurity #PeopleBuildingPeace #LeaveNoOneBehind

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

𝐁𝐁𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡, 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐍𝐀𝐏 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚

This week, we had the privilege of welcoming Mr. Michael Oyinlola to our Abuja office. His visit forms part of ongoing engagements with key stakeholders to evaluate Nigeria’s National Action Plan (NAP) on Youth, Peace and Security (2021–2024), led by Expertise France in close collaboration with the Nigeria Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security.

Nigeria’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security serves as the country’s strategic framework for advancing meaningful youth participation in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and security processes.

The ongoing evaluation seeks to assess the implementation progress of the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security, identify challenges encountered, and explore opportunities to strengthen the development of the second National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security in Nigeria.

Since its establishment in 2017, @bbforpeace has remained at the forefront of advocating for, mobilising, and empowering young people to promote peace and social cohesion across Nigeria.

#PeopleBuildingPeace #NigeriaYouth4Peace

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻!

🎉 Be part of the National Conference on Youth, Peace & Security (YPS) happening on 26 May 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria!

@bbforpeace, in partnership with the @fmydNG, @IpcrNigeria, with support from the @ng_youthfund, invites young changemakers (18–35), civil society actors, researchers, policymakers, security practitioners, students, development partners, and peace advocates to join this groundbreaking event.

Theme: Bridging Policy and Practice: Multistakeholders Engagement in Youth, Peace and Security Frameworks Implementation

Why Attend?
Connect with leaders and peers driving the YPS agenda
Explore innovative solutions for peace and security in Nigeria
Raise momentum and mobilise action for YPS implementation

📌 Don’t miss this chance to add your voice to the national conversation on peace and security!

👉 Apply now through the link below and secure your spot!
https://t.co/W1p8w3iSV3

#PeopleBuildingPeace

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆!

Join the conversation on how to protect civic space.
Theme: Coalition-Building for Civic Space Protection

Date: Tuesday 19th May 2026 (today)
Time: 12.00pm Lagos Time
Venue: Zoom

Zoom link: https://t.co/djhHeuSaP5

Meeting ID: 834 1107 7695
Passcode: tcphP2

[Building Blocks for Peace @bbforpeace]

𝗕𝗕𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮

Last week, @bbforpeace, the regional secretariat of @gppac in West Africa participated in the regional conference themed "Migration & Climate Action in West and Central Africa: From Policy Commitment to Climate Mobility Investment," organised by the @IOMROWCA in Lagos, Nigeria.

The conference brought together Ministers from across West and Central Africa, alongside senior representatives of climate funds, multilateral development banks, and regional institutions, to engage in strategic dialogue on climate-related human mobility.

The event served as an important platform for bridging policy commitments with investment action through high-level discussions and solution-oriented engagements aimed at strengthening regional responses to climate mobility challenges.

Key discussions focused on:
* Policy and Data: Governing Climate Mobility in West and Central Africa
* Human Mobility and Climate Finance: From Risk to a Shared Finance Contract
* Delivering the Pipeline: Evidence, Pathways, and Finance for Climate Mobility
* Shaping a Regional Voice on Climate Mobility: Priorities, Ownership, and Action

By engaging in these discussions, BBFORPEACE continues to bridge the gap between policy commitments and grassroots realities, amplifying youth perspectives in shaping regional responses to climate mobility challenges.

#Youth4Peace #NigeriaYouth4Peace #ClimateSecurity #PeopleBuildingPeace