The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has validated a new Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) instrument to strengthen its network of policymakers and religious leaders in advancing national reconciliation.
IPCR Director-General Dr Joseph Ochogwu, speaking at the validation workshop on Wednesday in Abuja, called the initiative a “culminating moment” in years of collaboration among religious leaders, civil society actors, and policymakers.
“Today marks a step forward in our joint effort to build a platform where faith-based and government institutions not only dialogue, but also decide and act on national peace strategies,” he stated.
Ochogwu said that since launching in 2022, the Network had become a powerful tool for evidence-based dialogue on Nigeria’s evolving peace and security challenges across multiple regions and communities.
He identified six top areas of concern as economic and food security, personal and public health, environmental protection, inclusive peace processes, and improvements in political and institutional governance systems nationwide.
*”These issues are lived realities for Nigerians. If ignored, they drive insecurity. We must focus on inclusive development, climate resilience, and effective democratic institutions.
The new M&E instrument will track the implementation of peacebuilding decisions and hold stakeholders accountable for commitments made under the Network’s framework for sustainable dialogue and national cohesion,”* he said.
Ochogwu also hailed partners like KAICIID and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) for their support and urged stakeholders to embrace evidence-based engagement for policy reform.
Also speaking, Mr Kabiru Musa, representing Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, emphasised the need to preserve institutional memory within peace initiatives across changing political and administrative landscapes.
“Continuity matters. Our decisions must be properly recorded to ensure progress is not lost during leadership transitions. This M&E tool will track progress, uncover gaps, and preserve impact,” Musa added.
He pledged continued support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen implementation and ensure Nigeria’s peace and reconciliation framework remained responsive, accountable, and sustainable for long-term national development.
(NAN)