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Nigeria DEPA Conference, 29 March 2022

27th April 2022

DEPA Conference Report

The University of Abuja in collaboration with PADEAP Nigeria and Open University UK  organized a 1-day conference to examine the intersection of Decolonisation, Critical Peace Education, and Social Justice in Nigeria. The conference which took place between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm on Tuesday 29th of March, 2022 was held within the premises of the University of Abuja main Campus. Two plenary sessions were constituted to analyze array of scholarly papers presented by scholars from diverse academic fields.

The first plenary session under the theme "African Knowledge System" was chaired by Dr. Umar Kari and has four paper presentations:

  • Peace Research in Nigeria: In search of a Feminist Paradigm---Aisha Balogun, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State.
  • Decolonizing Peace Research: The Case of the Niger Delta Conflict---Abdulwasi Babatunde Moshood, Ph.D, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State.
  • Exploring the Urhobo Concepts of Oghware (Exploitation) and Oshenye (Oppression) in the Quest for Peace in Africa----Ogheneochukwu Arodowe, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State.
  • Rethinking Yoruba Traditional Festivals as Resilience-building Strategy and Peace Pedagogy in a Conflict Inflicted Environment of Nigeria---Musibau Olabamiji, Ph.D, National Open University of Nigeria, Iwo Study Center, Iwo, Osun State.

Six papers were presented under the second plenary session titled "Peacebuilding, Social Justice and Reparations" and presided over by Tominke Olaniyan:

  1. Conflicts Resolution from the Subaltern: Nigerian Playwrights and the Revisioning of Justice in Post-Colonial Nigeria--- Nurudeen Adeshina Lawal, Ph.D, Osun State University, Ikire Campus, Osun State.
  2. Onyomkpor Masquerade: A Panacea to Community Justice and Peace--- Jimmy Akoh, University of Abuja, Abuja.
  3. Decolonising Peace Education: The Afrocentric Perspectives--- Prof. Don John O. Omale, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State
  4. Localized Peace in a Weaponized Environment: Interrogating Community Conflict Transformation and Traditional Peacebuilding Interventions against Armed Banditry in Nigeria's Northwest---Dotun Akanni, Ph.D & Idris Mohammed, Usman Dan Fodyo University Sokoto, Sokoto State.
  5. Interrogating Communication & Media Proficiency of Civil Society Organizations in Conflict Resolution in Nigeria--- Tunde Akanni, Ph.D & Amira Obi-Okoye, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State.
  6. Re-thinking Peace Education in Nigeria: The Need for Gender Equality---Prof. Ganiyat Adeshina-Uthman & Abel Inabo Obaka, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja

The conference was a gathering of multi-disciplinary researchers from different institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. Several intellectuals across Nigeria and beyond also participated virtually in the conference. DEPA Team from the United Kingdom and other countries registered their presence through virtual participation, and they made invaluable contributions particularly Parvati of the Open University and Stephen of Coventry University, both in the United Kingdom. DEPA Nigeria Team did a great job and that reflected in the huge success that the conference recorded. One of the positive things to take away from the conference is the fact that the participants have pledged their continuous support to DEPA project now and in future.