Growing up and experiencing the brutalities of religious and ethnic based violence in my community in Kaduna State Nigeria gave me strong motivation to become a peace advocate in order to help build more peaceful, just, tolerable, secured, prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable world. I had a strong desire in me to do something about the situation in my community but I did not know what to do, and how to go about it. In 2016, I stumbled on the application link of the Emerging Leaders Program of YALI RLC West Africa Accra Ghana on Facebook. So I applied, I told my story of how violent conflict in my community impacted on me and my desire to make a change. Early in 2017, I got a mail that I have been selected to participate in the cohorts 3 of the YALI RLC West Africa Emerging Leaders Program in the track of Civic Leadership. This was actually the turning point in life and in my leadership journey as a youth; because it was my first leadership training that gave me access to International Youth Network. I diligently followed and completed my training on 30th August 2017. The training gave me the needed exposure, equipped me with relevant knowledge, skills, competence, and access to the Alumni Network; these boosted my confidence to lead change in my community.
Upon the completion of my training I was elected as the Northwest Regional Secretary of YALI RLC West Africa Accra Ghana Alumni Chapter of Nigeria. I was highly excited to lead in this capacity, and also motivated to start my own Non-profit Organization. It was in the course of discharging my duties as a YALI RLC regional representative that I talked so passionately about peace building in a community gathering; that someone recommended me for Generations for Peace a global peace building Organization based in Amman Jordan working in conflicted affected communities in Kaduna state Nigeria. This led to me being trained in Dialogue for Peace to implement a Dialogue for Peace Program that impacted over 1000 youths’ beneficiaries in Kaduna State Nigeria. After the training, I was able to reflect on my experiences and on the feelings that had developed in me towards the Hausas. I realized I had to learn how to forgive because of the peace building skills and knowledge I had acquired from the training. I am now a seventh-generation Delegate Volunteer with Generations For Peace. Since 2017 till date, I have demonstrated leadership by committing myself as an active volunteer to Generations for Peace Nigeria, applying my knowledge; working on design, development, and implementation of a local community programs addressing local issues of conflict and violence.These programs have used Sports, Arts, Dialogue, Empowerment, and Advocacy as entry points for engagement and a vehicle for integrated peace education, and had sustained behavioral and social change in conflict affected communities in Kaduna State Nigeria. We have trained more than 300 volunteers and implemented 11 peace building programs engaging more than 5,500 adults, girls, women and youths in conflict affected communities in Kaduna State Nigeria.
Also,serving in different leadership positions in YALI RLC West Africa Accra Ghana Alumni Chapter of Nigeria, firstly as the Secretary Northwest Region, and secondly as Participants Engagement Committee Chairman in National Executive from November 2017 to October 2018 and November 2018 to December 2019 respectively; provided me the opportunity to develop and build my passion in volunteerism. Volunteering is one of my most fulfilling experiences because I am passionate about helping others become better persons by discovering their unique identity, beauty and self worth. I have volunteered in Nigeria for over 2 years with other different Organizations and Youth Groups as Mentor, Facilitator, Educator and Programs manager. I have executed numerous awards winning projects that focused on preventing violence extremism, peace education and peace building, substance abuse education, gender based violence prevention, discrimination against persons with disabilities, water sanitation and hygiene, quality education, and youth empowerment. Youth Groups and Organizations, I had volunteered with include YALI NETWORK Nigeria, Life Challenge Intervention Outreach, Strategy and Innovation for Development Initiative, and World Largest Lesson on SDGs. These programs have directly benefited over 5000 women, 10000 Children, 20000 teenagers and youths, and 30,000 students and graduates.