Scholars Identify Political Exclusion, Governance Failures, Others As Drivers of Conflict in Nigeria

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Governance failures, inequitable resource distribution, political and economic exclusion have been identified as key drivers of conflict in the country.

The observation was made on Thursday, at the end of a three-day writing and publication workshop held at the University of Port Harcourt, with a focus on re-imagining peace in Nigeria.

The workshop, organised by the Nigerian chapter of the African University Seminar Series, with support from the Social Science Research Council’s African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD), was co-hosted by the Faculty of Social Science and Faculty of Agriculture of the university.

In a communiqué   read at the end of the workshop, the scholars, who attended the training from across universities in the country, urged governments at all levels to address the structural issues that cause conflict to achieve lasting peace in Nigeria.

They also called for the adoption of community-based strategies and inclusive governance to address Nigeria’s persistent peace and security challenges.

According to the communiqué, participants emphasised the need for strategic communication frameworks rooted in local realities to counter radicalisation and promote peacebuilding efforts across the country.

The scholars also warned against over-reliance on government contracts as a tool for peace, stating that while such interventions may temporarily reduce violence, they often fail to address underlying grievances and may create parallel security structures.

“Government should prioritise feasibility studies and proper needs assessments before awarding contracts, as poorly designed interventions can entrench conflicts rather than resolve them,” the communiqué stated.

Participants further highlighted the dangers of weak state presence in conflict-prone areas, noting that it contributes to resource-based conflicts, environmental degradation and disruption of local livelihoods.

They also called on state actors to improve communication with citizens, warning that silence or lack of transparency often fuels distrust, fear and misinformation.

The workshop explored diverse themes in peacebuilding and security, including counter-radicalisation strategies, natural resource conflicts, reintegration of ex-combatants, gender and border security, and the role of non-political platforms in fostering unity.

Earlier, in a keynote address, a scholar from the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Akin Iwilade, urged African researchers to prioritise quality scholarship driven by empirical data, interdisciplinary methods and ethical standards, rather than focusing solely on publishing in high-impact journals.

He also advised scholars to situate their research within broader global debates to enhance relevance and impact.

The Programme Director, African Peacebuilding and Development Dynamics, Dr. Cyril Obi, said participants at the workshop were exposed to the most up-to-date techniques of academic writing, received constructive feedback on their manuscripts, and learnt more about the strategies for publishing their work, as a community of Nigerian APDD scholars committed to research excellence, knowledge production and dissemination. 

Obi encouraged the participants to actively support the work of the AUSS-NG to ensure that by the end of the seminar, they would have collectively and successfully mapped out the comprehensive strategy, timelines and plan for submitting a proposal for an edited book or special issue of a highly ranked journal for publication to a reputable publisher.

In his address, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Owunari Georgewill, noted that writing holds immense power, has the ability to inform, inspire, educate and transform lives. 

He said through it, “ideas come alive, stories endure and voices find expression. Yet. the path from putting words on paper to achieving publication can often feel daunting.” 

Represented by Prof. Chuka Ononye, Prof Gerogewill said the workshop was thoughtfully designed to bridge gaps by equipping the participants with the necessary skills, practical insights and confidence to succeed.

The workshop featured paper presentations by 16 alumni across parallel sessions, with participants receiving mentorship and practical guidance on academic writing, journal publication processes and research visibility.

A lead paper presenter at the workshop, Prof Victor Okorie, during interview with journalists, noted the need for scholars to strategise in their research and proffer solution to the violence threatening the peace of the country and the world at large.

Prof Okorie, a lecturer from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, said: “So, war, as far as this thinking is concerned, is endemic. And the thinking here is that those of us who, by the reason of our training, are trained to provide knowledge that will guide individuals, nation states and organisations to protect themselves, we are convoking this very writing workshop to be able to get materials out that will address the issues of insecurity globally.”