ACADEMIC JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT (AJERM)
Communal Engagement Practice and Sustainable PeaceBuilding in Bayelsa State
E-ISSN: 2390-4383
P-ISSN: 1330-3473
DOI: https://iigdpublishers.com/article/1618
This study examined the role of communal engagement practices in promoting sustainable peacebuilding in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The research sought to determine the extent to which communal engagement influences sustainable peace and to identify factors that enhance or hinder its effectiveness. This study was anchored on Conflict Transformation Theory propounded by John Paul Lederach. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, targeting community leaders, youth groups, women associations, and residents in Bayelsa State. Data were collected through secondary sources and were analyzed using empirical analysis. The findings revealed that communal engagement practices have a strong positive influence on sustainable peacebuilding, as they promote social cohesion, conflict resolution, trust-building, and community ownership of peace initiatives. The study also identified key factors enhancing the effectiveness of communal engagement, including inclusive participation, capacity building, local ownership, and collaboration with external stakeholders. Conversely, factors such as socio-economic deprivation, weak governance structures, political interference, and exclusion of marginalized groups were found to hinder effective engagement. Based on these findings, the study concluded that communal engagement is a critical driver of sustainable peace in Bayelsa State, but its success depends on addressing structural and institutional challenges while promoting inclusivity, capacity development, and community ownership. Recommendations include strengthening local institutions, enhancing participatory mechanisms, addressing socio-economic barriers, and implementing formal conflict prevention systems.
Bonnie K. Goodhope
Adedeji, A. O. (2024). Transformation theory and peacebuilding: Evaluating strategies for addressing the Niger Delta conflict. Asian Review of Social Sciences.
Adekanye, J. B. (2007). Linking conflict diagnosis, conflict prevention, and conflict management in contemporary Africa. Lagos: Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies.
Ake, C. (1996). Democracy and development in Africa. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution.
Arnstein, S. R. (1969). A ladder of citizen participation. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 35(4), 216–224.
Cornwall, A. (2008). Unpacking ―participation‖: Models, meanings and practices. Community Development Journal, 43(3), 269–283.
Emmanuel, J., et al. (2024). Youth involvement in peacebuilding: A study of post-conflict communities in Adamawa State, Nigeria.
Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND). (2025). PIND strengthens stability in the Niger Delta through intercommunal peace initiative.
Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND). (2025). Dialogue for peace: Strengthening collaboration between communities and security actors in Bayelsa.
Fukuyama, F. (2011). The origins of political order: From prehuman times to the French Revolution. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Galtung, J. (1969). Violence, peace, and peace research. Journal of Peace Research, 6(3), 167–191.
Ibrahim, A. (2025). Foundation inaugurates peace committees in Bayelsa to tackle local conflicts. BusinessDay.
Ikelegbe, A. (2005). The economy of conflict in the oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Nordic Journal of African Studies, 14(2), 208–234.
Jajere, Z. M. (2009). Family Planning and Abortion in the Face of the Shari'ah. Unimaid Journal of Women Studies, 2, 85.
Jajere, Z. M. (2026). FAITH-BASED RESOURCES AND DURABLE SOLUTIONS: ISLAMIC SOCIAL FINANCE AND THE PROTECTION OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN BORNO STATE, NIGERIA. Multi-Disciplinary Research and Development Journals Int'l, 8(2), 1-36.
Jajere, Z. M. (2026). Gender Inequality in Maiduguri: An Islamic Perspective. Spanish Journal of Innovation and Integrity, 51, 23-29.
Jajere, Z. M., & Abdullahi, A. S. (2025). Muslim Women in Environmental Stewardship: Afforestation Initiatives and Socioeconomic Impact in Muslim-Majority Regions Sahel Region of Africa. African Journal of Earth and Environmental Science, 7(1).
Jajere, Z. M., & ISHAQ, R. N. (2024). ISLAMIC VIEW ON ORPHANS, WIDOWS AND LESS PRIVILEGE IN ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. EKERE JOURNAL OF RELIGION (EJR), 2(1), 71-86.
