The European Union (EU), in collaboration with Bayero University Kano (BUK), has called for a comprehensive, community-driven approach to prevent violence and address insecurity in northern Nigeria.
The call was made on Monday during a one-day seminar titled, ‘A Whole-Society Approach to the Prevention of Violence and Conflict in Northern Nigeria,’ held at BUK.
Speaking at the event, BUK Vice-Chancellor Prof. Haruna Musa said the presence of EU ambassadors and key stakeholders reflected a shared commitment to regional stability, development, and human security.
Musa stated that northern Nigeria continues to face complex security and development challenges that require collective action from government, academia, civil society, traditional institutions, and international partners.
“No single institution can solve these challenges alone. It requires working together.
“As a university, BUK is ready to contribute research, data, and community connections to support evidence-based interventions,” he said.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, highlighted that insecurity remains one of the major challenges in northern Nigeria.
He emphasized the need for inclusive and preventive approaches to tackling violence and conflict across the region.
Mignot, leading a delegation of EU ambassadors, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to supporting Nigeria through investments in education, peacebuilding, governance reforms, and economic development.
“The delegation chose Kano for its annual diplomatic mission because of the state’s strategic importance as a key development and commercial hub,” he said.
He added that the EU is implementing development programmes across Nigeria under its Global Gateway investment strategy.
These programmes cover climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, health, and education.
“International cooperation remains essential to tackling global challenges such as climate change, inequality, insecurity, and disinformation,” Mignot stated.
He revealed that the EU has expanded its focus to North-West Nigeria with a €300 million package.
Mignot also noted that this intervention complements €730 million in grants and over €1.5 billion in development support planned between 2021 and 2027.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, affirmed that the Federal Government remains committed to protecting lives, property, and peace in vulnerable communities.
Represented by the Director of State Liaison in the NSA’s Office, Lami Chinade, Ribadu stressed the importance of non-kinetic approaches.
He said sustainable peace requires prevention, inclusion, dialogue, resilience, opportunity, trust-building, and social cohesion.
Ribadu added that the NSA is developing a National Peace Framework to enhance stakeholder coordination and promote community-centered peacebuilding initiatives.
He explained that every child in school, every youth engaged productively, and every dispute peacefully resolved strengthen national security.
Earlier, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Musa Suleiman-Shanono, emphasized that peace and security depend on collaboration among governments and key stakeholders.
He commended the EU delegation and BUK for organizing the seminar.
In a presentation on conflict drivers in northern Nigeria, Prof. Maikano Madawaki of BUK’s Department of Sociology identified key causes of insecurity, including ethnic tensions, communal disputes, political violence, marginalization, substance abuse, unemployment, and weak governance.
Madawaki called for stronger institutions, better access to education and social services, effective border control, and increased investment in youth development.
He stressed that addressing the root causes of violence is essential for lasting peace and security in the region.
