Authors: Ojobah, Emmanuel Ucheoma, Dr. Chinyere E, Ihedioha
Abstract: The persistence of youth violence in Nigeria's Niger Delta region continues to pose significant challenges to social stability, community development, and sustainable peace. In the Ogoni communities of Rivers State, long-standing socio-economic grievances, environmental degradation, and political tensions have contributed to various forms of youth violence, including cultism, communal conflicts, and political thuggery. While peace education has been widely advocated as a non-violent approach to conflict transformation, empirical evidence on its effectiveness in community-based settings remains limited. This study examined Peace Education as a Strategy for Reducing Youth Violence: Evidence from the Ogoni Communities of Rivers State, Nigeria The study adopted a descriptive research design and utilized both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Data were collected from youths, community leaders, educators, and peace facilitators through questionnaires and structured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses were subjected to thematic analysis. Findings revealed that peace education positively influenced youths' attitudes and behaviours by promoting tolerance, dialogue, mutual respect, and non-violent conflict resolution skills. The study further found that communities with sustained peace education initiatives experienced lower incidences of communal clashes, cult-related activities, and politically motivated violence. However, inadequate funding, weak institutional support, and inconsistent programme implementation limited the effectiveness of peace education interventions. The study concludes that peace education constitutes an important mechanism for reducing youth violence and promoting sustainable peace in conflict-prone communities. It recommends the institutionalization of peace education within formal and informal learning systems, increased stakeholder collaboration, and sustained youth engagement programmes to strengthen peacebuilding efforts in the Niger Delta region.
