The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) is set to celebrate ten years of uninterrupted operations, marking a significant milestone as one of Nigeria’s few civil society organizations that has operated entirely without foreign funding or external institutional backing since its establishment.
Registered in January 2016, PeacePro has spent the last decade demonstrating that locally driven organizations can survive, grow, and make meaningful contributions to peacebuilding, conflict prevention, research, and policy advocacy through indigenous resources and community support.
Speaking ahead of the anniversary, PeacePro’s Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat described its ten year journey as evidence that impact is not determined by the size of an organization’s funding but by the strength of its vision, credibility, and commitment to public service.
According to Hamzat, its decade long record challenges the widespread belief that African NGOs must depend on foreign donors to remain relevant and effective.
“Over the years, PeacePro has undertaken numerous interventions aimed at preventing violence, promoting dialogue, and strengthening peaceful coexistence across Nigeria”.
In 2017, the organization played a key role in efforts that helped curtail a communal crisis in Osun State. It also intervened during a period of rising tension in Northern Nigeria following the circulation of a hate song that threatened to fuel hostility against a particular ethnic group.
The organization has further facilitated dialogue among conflicting parties, supported out of court settlements, and conducted fact finding missions in conflict prone areas, including Southern Kaduna during periods of intense farmers herders clashes.
Beyond conflict intervention, PeacePro has established itself as a notable voice in peace and security research. Through flagship initiatives such as the Nigeria Peace Index, State of Peace Report, and Africa Peace Insight, the organization has generated data, analysis, and policy recommendations on peace and security trends in Nigeria and across the African continent.
The organization has also led several advocacy campaigns, most notably its campaign for the demilitarization of Africa and slavery accountability by countries and organizations who made gains or inherited gains of slavery. Through research, public engagement, and policy advocacy, PeacePro has consistently argued for governance driven and people centred approaches to peace and security, while advocating reduced dependence on military solutions and foreign security arrangements.
As it enters its second decade, PeacePro says it remains committed to advancing peacebuilding, strengthening democratic values, promoting social cohesion, and supporting sustainable development across Africa.
Hamzat noted that its greatest achievement over the last ten years is not merely the projects it has implemented or the reports it has published, but its success in proving that an independent African institution can sustain itself, maintain its voice, and make a measurable impact without foreign funding.
For PeacePro, the tenth anniversary represents more than a celebration of longevity. It is a testament to the capacity of indigenous organizations to build resilient institutions, influence public discourse, and contribute to national and continental development through local initiative and local ownership.