Writing By Daniel Karlmax ,Editing By Godwin Duru
In a renewed push to foster national unity and reduce conflict, the PACE Institute for Research and Development has unveiled a new policy brief-Leveraging Radio for Peace Education and Conflict Transformation in Nigeria.
The document underscores the powerful role of radio in addressing misinformation, combating hate speech, and encouraging constructive dialogue across violence-affected regions.
The Co-authors of the Policy brief, Richard Dukpa Dambo and Iliya k, Dennis, in an official unveiling of the program in Kaduna explained that radio remains one of the most effective tools for community engagement.
“Radio can penetrate hard-to-reach areas and engage diverse groups in a shared conversation. In a country as complex and multi-ethnic as Nigeria, utilising radio for peace education is not only logical but also essential,” they said.
The policy brief according to the Co-authors puts forward several actionable recommendations to include, strengthening and supporting community radio stations and training broadcasters in conflict-sensitive reporting.
They stressed the need for establishing partnerships between media houses and peacebuilding organisations in the country for effective peace building and organizational growth and development.
Richard and Dennis proposed strategies such as the expansion and promotion of community radio networks across Nigeria.
The initiative advocated for the localization of peacebuilding efforts by ensuring radio programming is delivered in local languages and reflects diverse gender, ethnic, and religious perspectives.
They submitted that the implementation of recommendations could significantly enhance national cohesion, particularly in regions prone to ethnic and religious tensions.
Daniel Karlmax
