PEDO promotes peacebuilding and encourages confidence building among communities in northern Nigeria.
Last updated: October 2021
Since 1995, the Millennium Development Centre (also known as the Peace and Development Organization, PEDO) has been working to help build a peaceful and healthy Nigerian society where vulnerable and marginalised people and groups are empowered to demand and exercise their rights through legitimate means.
The organisation's objectives are:
- To promote peacebuilding and encourage confidence building among various communities in northern Nigeria.
- To promote democracy, good governance, transparency, accountability, the rule of law, human rights and constitutionalism.
- To empower youth and women to reduce the poverty level in their society.
- To strengthen communities through capacity building initiatives.
Major achievements:
- In 2001, PEDO intervened and resolved a conflict between young supporters of the All Nigerian People Party (ANPP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Disagreements over party ideological differences in the Gusau local government area had led to violent conflict between supporters of both political parties. The Governor of Zamfara state, Alhaji Ahmad Sani Yariman Bakura, called PDP supporters "unbelievers" (non-Muslims) and said that people should not vote for them in the upcoming elections. PDP supporters reacted by attacking supporters of ANPP. PEDO organized a 2 day conflict resolution training programme for young people from both parties. As a result violent conflict among youths in Zamfara State has ended.
- PEDO organised a peace project among Fulani-farmers in the Zamfara State of the northern Nigeria.