Nigeria Alliance for Peace 2008 program came up shortly after the Africa Alliance for Peace (AAP) summit in Ghana. The program which was in two parts, namely, a public lecture, and a training session, served as a kickoff of Nigeria Alliance for Peace campaign for Ministry of Peace in Nigeria, and the need to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence in the country.
Michael Abkin, Ph.D, Director of Operations, Peace Partnership International, United States (http://www.peacepartintl.org/) who facilitated the training session was the amiable guest speaker in a public lecture held at the University of Ibadan Conference Centre (in Nigeria), on the 17th May 2008 on the topic “ Creating Ministries and Departments of Peace in Governments: Essence and Impact on Peace Building”. Dr. Abkin presented the history of Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace and the worldwide movement it reflects. In the course of the lecture, He spoke extensively on some of the programs, actions and initiatives that a Ministry of Peace would be charged with. About 50 people were present at the program. The visiting Radio and Television news crew aired the program later that evening.
The training session which took place on 20th May 2008, was organized within the premises of the Department of Physics, University of Ibadan. The training was centered on ‘National Peace Campaign Organizing and Operation”, and “the Principles of Peace Approach to Conflict Resolution. Over 15 Students attended, which was notable as this was the week before final exams.