The New Nigeria Project
Arewa, Oodua, IPOB Youths Complete Non-Violence Training in the U.S. Under FEHN Initiative
In a significant step toward fostering national unity and peaceful coexistence, youths from the Arewa, Oodua, and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movements have successfully completed an intensive non-violence and peacebuilding training in the United States.
The week-long training was led by renowned civil rights icon Dr. Bernard Lafayette, a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., alongside a team of American non-violence experts. This initiative represents the international phase of a broader peacebuilding programme launched by the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN).
The programme, which began in Lagos in 2023, was designed to build trust among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups through the principles of non-violence. Over 50 youths—including representatives from Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba, and other communities—were carefully selected by FEHN’s Founder and Chairman/CEO of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, to participate.
According to FEHN, over ₦300 million was invested in the training, which has transformed the participants into committed peace advocates, equipped to champion reconciliation and national unity across Nigeria.
The training took place at the Emory Center for Advancing Nonviolence at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, where participants expressed profound gratitude for the life-changing opportunity.
Mohammed Danjuma, leader of the Arewa Transformation and Empowerment Initiative (ATEI), lauded Mr. Onyema’s dedication to peace, calling him a “selfless and visionary leader.” He described the training as “a transformative experience that has redefined my approach to leadership and conflict resolution.”
Similarly, Ms. Ifunanya Kanonye, Director of the Global Independent Pan-African Youth Parliament, noted: “Attending the Kingian Non-Violence Programme was an eye-opener. It has completely changed my perspective on dialogue and peacebuilding.”
This groundbreaking initiative reaffirms FEHN’s commitment to sustainable peace through youth empowerment, education, and cross-cultural dialogue.
Would you like it formatted for a blog post or newsletter as well?