Teens Going For Gold Network Champions Peace Education, Empowers Youths As Peace Ambassadors

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As insecurity and social tensions continue to challenge communities across Nigeria, Teens Going for Gold Network (TGFGN) has intensified efforts to promote peace education among young people through the launch of Kojo & Friends, a manual aimed at raising a new generation of peace ambassadors.

The organisation said the initiative seeks to equip students with the values of tolerance, empathy and conflict resolution, enabling them to contribute positively to peacebuilding efforts in their schools and communities.

Kojo & Friends, described as Nigeria’s first tailored peace education manual was launched during the second edition of the Peace Education Bootcamp organised by Teens Going for Gold Network (TGFGN) in Lagos.

Speaking virtually at the event, the Founder of Teens Going for Gold Network, Pelumi Obisesan-Aina, said the initiative was conceived in response to growing insecurity across the country and its impact on education.

According to her, insecurity is no longer confined to a particular region but has become a nationwide challenge affecting how young people learn and interact with the world.

She cited the kidnapping of students and teachers in Oyo State as an example of the threats confronting learners, noting that education cannot be discussed without addressing peace and security.

“People want to go to school, but not if they will be kidnapped,” she said.

Obisesan-Aina explained that peace education helps young people develop values and behaviours that promote peaceful coexistence and prevent conflict.

She said the manual tells the story of four teenagers in Lagos who are divided by ethnicity, language, religion and politics, providing lessons aimed at helping students identify and overcome biases.

The TGFGN founder said the manual was designed to encourage tolerance, understanding and peaceful engagement among young people, while discouraging manipulation by political actors.

She expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government for endorsing the manual for use across secondary schools in the state and announced that every student attending the event would receive a free copy.

Obisesan-Aina also highlighted the impact of TGFGN, noting that the organisation, which she founded at the age of 19, has directly trained more than 15,000 young people in vocational skills, business education and financial literacy.

In his welcome address, Tobi Olatunji, the Executive Director of TGFGN described the peace manual as a seed for nurturing a generation of Nigerian youths equipped with the knowledge and practical skills required to become peacemakers in their schools, homes and communities.

He said the endorsement by the Lagos State Government reinforced the belief that investing in young people contributes to a more peaceful future.

Addressing students, Olatunji urged them to embrace the lessons from the bootcamp and become leaders who resolve conflicts through empathy rather than violence.

“Today and the future belong to young people who choose to lead with empathy, settle conflicts without fists or fear, and inspire the change they want to see,” he said.

He also commended the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), Dreamstead Schools and other partners for supporting the project.

Delivering remarks at the event, TGFGN Board Member, Adedolapo Osuntuyi, challenged participants to see peace as a personal responsibility rather than something dependent on government action.

She noted that while conflict is inevitable, the response to it determines whether it escalates or is resolved peacefully.

According to her, Nigeria’s diversity should be a source of strength rather than division.

“We live in a country of over 200 million people — different tribes, different languages, different religions, different opinions. And sometimes, instead of our differences making us stronger, they become the reason we fight,” she said.

Osuntuyi urged students to embrace dialogue, understanding and respect, describing them as essential tools for peacebuilding.

She commended TGFGN for developing the peace manual and encouraged participants to see themselves as part of the solution to Nigeria’s challenges.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Chapter of the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) described peace education as a critical component of quality education.

In a goodwill message delivered by its Provost, Margaret Chichi Nkire, the coalition praised TGFGN for promoting peace education among children and young learners.

Nkire said education should extend beyond literacy and numeracy to include values, life skills and competencies that prepare learners for meaningful participation in society.

She explained that peace education equips young people with skills such as respect, empathy and cooperation, enabling them to build positive relationships and resolve disputes constructively.

“Peace means living in harmony, showing respect, and resolving disagreements without violence,” she said.

She added that peaceful individuals demonstrate qualities such as kindness, honesty, self-control, empathy, cooperation and responsibility, all of which contribute to stronger communities.

Nkire urged children and young learners to see peace as a daily choice and apply the lessons from the programme in their schools and communities.

She reaffirmed CSACEFA’s commitment to working with stakeholders to promote quality education, child rights and peacebuilding initiatives.

The launch of the Peace Education Bootcamp and Kojo & Friends manual brought together government representatives, educators, civil society organisations, school administrators, students and development partners committed to advancing peace education among young Nigerians.