Rev. (Dr.) Austin Uchegbu has unveiled the Centre for Peace, Conflict Resolution and Community Resilience (CPCC) in Abuja, with a call for stronger grassroots peacebuilding efforts to promote security and peaceful elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Director of the Centre, Rev. Uchegbu made the call during the public presentation of the institution, themed “Advancing Peace, Security and Community Resilience in Nigeria: Dialogue and Action Towards the 2027 General Election.”
He described the establishment of the Centre as timely, noting that Nigeria is currently facing violent conflicts, environmental challenges and socio-political tensions that require innovative, research-based and collaborative solutions.
Rev. Uchegbu said the Centre would focus on strengthening community resilience by equipping citizens with the knowledge and capacity to resist violence, political manipulation and social division before, during and after the 2027 elections.
According to him, the Centre will pursue its mandate through interdisciplinary research, professional certification programmes, policy advisory and risk assessment, as well as consultancy services.
As part of its inauguration, the Centre unveiled its official digital platform and launched the maiden edition of the African Journal of Peace and Community Resilience.
Rev. Uchegbu also called for strategic partnerships with universities, government agencies, civil society organisations and international institutions to deepen knowledge-sharing and advance sustainable peace initiatives across Nigeria.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Professor Azikiwe Peter Onuwala, Professor Samuel Iroye urged political leaders to reconnect with the grassroots, criticizing what he described as the growing disconnect between elected officials and the communities they serve.
Professor Iroye stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be solved through military operations alone, but by addressing the root causes of conflict, including poor governance, inequality and exclusion.
He advocated greater community participation in peacebuilding, emphasizing that empowering women, youths and local institutions remains essential to achieving lasting peace and national security.
Participants at the event expressed confidence that the new Centre would strengthen Nigeria’s peace architecture through research, policy advocacy and community-driven interventions as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.