Search for Common Ground Nigeria

14/04/2026

Effective peacebuilding does not happen in isolation.

It requires trust, collaboration, and strong relationships with the people and institutions that hold the power to protect communities.

This is the principle driving Search for Common Ground Nigeria's strategic engagement with the Benue State Government.
As part of deliberate efforts to anchor its work within existing government structures, Search for Common Ground Nigeria, alongside its partner Spirit of America Worldwide, paid a courtesy visit to the Benue State Deputy Governor, Barr. Sam Ode.

The visit was not just a formality. It was a calculated step toward building the kind of institutional buy-in that makes peacebuilding work sustainable and effective.

At the heart of this engagement is the Rapid Response for Peace project, being implemented across Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Taraba States.

The project aims to strengthen Early Warning and Early Response systems and improve the conflict management capacity of both authorities and community stakeholders.

Search's delegation, led by Gift Omoniwa, Director of Programmes and Acting Country Director, used the visit to formally introduce Spirit of America to the state government and to open doors for deeper cooperation. The Spirit of America Worldwide team, comprising Sailer Perkins, Christopher White, and Camila Alegria, reinforced this commitment by expressing their interest in identifying additional ways to support the state government's own conflict prevention initiatives.

The Deputy Governor's response was encouraging. He commended both organisations for their intervention and pledged the government's full support and collaboration, a commitment that significantly strengthens the foundation on which this project stands.

03/04/2026

Peace starts with everyday choices.

In moments of tension, our communities need calm voices, honest conversations, and actions that bring people together, not further apart.

To everyone in Agwan Rukuba and across Plateau State, this is a time to;
❌Reject rumours
❌Avoid violence, and
✅Choose peace.

Let us look out for one another, speak with care, and protect the peace our communities need.

25/03/2026

No road? No problem.
Our team will find a way.

Crossing the River Buruku on a makeshift ferry boat is just the beginning.
After reaching the other side, our team still has a 2-hour journey ahead to the project site in Logo Local Government Area, Benue State, all for a community entry activity that could make the difference between conflict and peace.

This is what commitment looks like.

Our team at Search for Common Ground Nigeria doesn't wait for perfect conditions to show up for communities. They show up anyway through rivers, rough terrain, and remote roads, because the people in these hard-to-reach communities deserve to be heard, protected, and empowered with the tools to resolve conflict before it turns violent.

Through the Rapid Response for Peace (R2 for Peace) project, funded by Spirit of America Worldwide, Search is bringing Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) systems to communities across Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Taraba States, some of the most conflict-affected and underserved areas in Nigeria's Middle Belt region.

To our partners at Spirit of America Worldwide, this is what your investment looks like on the ground. Thank you for making it possible.

24/03/2026

“Those I once considered enemies, I now call my friends.”
Doris Ali is from Bauchi State

Through Search’s training and exchanges, Doris learned about collaboration, tolerance, empathy, and respect for diversity.
Now, she sees people as humans first and calls those she once saw as enemies her friends.

11/03/2026

Search for Common Ground Strengthens Partnership with Benue State Government to Advance Peacebuilding

Search for Common Ground Nigeria has strengthened its partnership with the Benue State Government through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the formal introduction of the R2 for Peace Project – Rapid Response: Immediate Protection and Early Warning Support to Violence-Affected Communities in Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Taraba States.

The delegation, led by Africa Regional Director Rajendra Mulmi and Country Director About Karno Outtara, engaged senior government officials to deepen collaboration on addressing recurring violence and strengthening community protection mechanisms.

Representing Governor Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the Secretary to the State Government, Dcns. Serumun Deborah Aber, Esq., expressed appreciation to Spirit of America for supporting the initiative and commended Search for Common Ground’s commitment to peacebuilding in the region.
She emphasized that Early Warning and Early Response systems are critical for building sustainable peace, particularly in communities affected by recurring violence.

The Benue State Government also pledged to mobilize key stakeholders to support the successful implementation of the project in selected communities in Guma and Logo Local Government Areas.
Supported by Spirit of America Worldwide, the R2 for Peace Project aims to reduce the incidence and severity of religious and intergroup violence by strengthening multi-level Early Warning and Early Response systems across the four states.

By strengthening collaboration between government institutions and communities, the project will enable earlier detection of risks and faster responses to emerging threats, helping prevent the escalation of violence.

08/03/2026

Today, we celebrate the strength, leadership, and resilience of women across Nigeria.

At Search we promote:
Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls

Women are not only participants in our peacebuilding programmes, they are mediators, community leaders, dialogue facilitators, and champions of peaceful coexistence.

Across the communities where we work, women continue to play a vital role in strengthening dialogue, preventing violence, and helping communities find common ground.

As we mark International Women’s Day 2026, we honour the contributions of women who are building bridges, transforming conflicts, and creating pathways for lasting peace.

Happy International Women’s Day.

07/03/2026

Women are powerful agents of peace.

Across Nigeria, women continue to play a critical role in preventing violence, strengthening dialogue, and helping communities resolve conflicts peacefully.

At Search for Common Ground Nigeria, we are proud to work alongside women who are leading change in their communities.

Through our programmes in 2025:

• 6,009 women participated in peacebuilding activities
• 871 women were trained as conflict mediators
• 30 women- and youth-led initiatives were supported
• Women represented 43% of participants across our programmes

These women are mediators, leaders, and bridge-builders helping their communities find common ground.

As we mark International Women’s Day 2026, we celebrate their courage, leadership, and commitment to building a more peaceful Nigeria.

Happy International Women’s Day.

06/03/2026

Peacebuilding becomes more sustainable when women participate meaningfully.

Across our 2025 programming,

2,353 adult women
and
3,656 young women were actively engaged in community dialogues, trainings, and peacebuilding activities.
6,009 women are
Together, that is 6,009 women contributing to stronger communities.

This participation matters.

Because when women are present in conversations about conflict and cooperation, communities gain:

• broader perspectives
• stronger trust
• more sustainable solutions

Women are helping to lead that work.

19/02/2026

Real peace begins on the ground, in communities not at conference s.

In Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad, Search for Common Ground partners with local leaders and youth. We focus on transforming conflict into real cooperation and supporting communities in the Lake Chad Basin to unite.

With the help of dedicated donors and partners, we are channeling our efforts into building lasting stability, trust, and resilience.

We’re not just responding to conflict.
We’re working to prevent it before it starts.

16/02/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵:
We bring people together across divides to build trust, resolve conflict, and create lasting social cohesion in communities across Nigeria.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂:
We want your support and the sustainability of our initiatives

12/02/2026

Behind every face is a story of strength. A story of resilience. A story of communities choosing dialogue over division.

Across communities, people are coming together to listen, to understand, and to rebuild trust. When conversations happen, healing begins. When trust grows, peace becomes possible.

This is what peacebuilding looks like.

Transforming violent conflict into peace, where collaboration, problem-solving, and lasting stability are possible.