Peacebuilding with compassion: Customising conflict management education for older adults

Abstract

A natural part of human contact is conflict, which frequently results from disparities in values, objectives, views, interests, resources, or power relationships. It can affect people and civilizations profoundly and can take many different forms, from small-scale conflicts to major battles. Although disagreements can be a source of constructive progress, but when they are badly handled or remain unresolved, they usually result in violence, devastation, and social disintegration (Bar-Tal, 2011), especially in areas with precarious sociopolitical circumstances, like Nigeria, with presumed social instability, poverty, and inequality. Political, religious, and ethnic issues regularly result in bloodshed and instability, making war a recurring problem in Nigeria (Kew, 2021). Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has been identified as having the most violent conflicts on the continent (Orhero, 2020). In many African nations, human security is still threatened by violent conflicts (Chinwokwu, 2015). Community disruption, demographic displacement, humanitarian crises, national social unrest, economic upheaval by uprooting millions of people, killing people, and destroying property, are just a few of the far-reaching effects of these violent conflicts brings in Nigeria. Historical grievances, political marginalization, and economic hardship are the fundamental causes of these wars (Albert, 2008). Nonetheless, there are attempts to reduce conflict and bring peace to the Country. Nigeria has seen a variety of peacebuilding initiatives, from government programs to community-based activities spearheaded by civil society groups. Examples include the United Nations Development Plan (UNDP) initiatives, Women's Involvement in Grassroots Peacebuilding in Nigeria (WIGPIN), the Conflict Prevention and Peace Building Initiative (CPPBI), and the incorporation of peace and conflict resolution into the formal education curriculum, among others (Bello, 2021).