YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND PEACE-BUILDING DYNAMICS IN NIGERIA’S NORTH-EAST CONFLICT REGION

Abstract

This study examined youth engagement in peace-building initiatives in Nigeria’s North-East conflict belt, using a descriptive survey research design to investigate how young people participate in peace-building efforts across Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Gombe States. A total of 327 respondents—including youth leaders, NGO peace officers, community leaders, and participants in peace programmes—completed a structured four-point Likert-scale questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (mean, frequency, percentages) and multiple regression analysis were used to address the research objectives. Findings revealed a high level of youth engagement in peace-building, with an overall mean of 3.42 and a standard deviation of 0.88, indicating consistent involvement in community dialogues, peace campaigns, and mediation activities. Regression analysis showed that socio-economic factors significantly influenced youth engagement (β = 0.614, p < 0.05), demonstrating that improved education and livelihood opportunities enhance willingness to participate in peace initiatives. The study further established that conflict exposure and institutional support strongly predicted engagement levels (β = 0.693, p < 0.05), indicating that youths who experienced conflict firsthand and had access to NGO or government support were more motivated to contribute to peace-building activities. All three null hypotheses were rejected, confirming that youth engagement is substantial, that socio-economic factors exert a meaningful influence, and that conflict exposure combined with institutional support significantly shapes youth involvement patterns. The study concluded that youths remain central actors in grassroots peace-building initiatives and can contribute to long-term stability when adequately empowered. It recommends strengthened livelihood interventions, expanded community-based peace programmes, and enhanced institutional collaboration to sustain youth-led peace-building efforts in the North-East.