(Commonwealth)_ Two influential northern Nigerian leaders have transformed cycles of religious conflict into sustained dialogue, trust-building, and long-term peace for more than three decades. Reverend Dr James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa – who, as former leaders and rivals during the Christian–Muslim clashes that racked northern Nigeria in the 1990s, have turned into close collaborators and internationally respected peace advocates. Their partnership began in 1995 when they co-founded the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna State, an organisation committed to the reconciliation of divided communities.
The IMC will celebrate the 30-year milestone on 19 November 2025 with a grand ceremony to be held in Nigeria, where stakeholders, supporters, and community members will come together to reflect on the importance of continued peacebuilding and to celebrate the work of Rev. Wuye and Imam Ashafa. To date, the IMC has worked within over 50 communities across the nation through mediation, dialogue, youth engagement, and leadership training aimed at helping people understand others and ease tensions. It has reached several millions through such activities as youth peace clubs and community capacity-building programmes and is today considered a model for grassroots peacebuilding.
The two leaders’ transformative work saw them win the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize, given for work that furthers core values of peace, tolerance, and respect enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter. This prize, designed by the Commonwealth Secretariat together with the Khalili Foundation, underlines the impact homegrown efforts can have in surmounting ingrained conflict and underpinning security for the long term. The award has also helped spread IMC’s work, expanding the reach of their youth-focused programs while ramping up the centre’s local and international engagement.
The key theme running through their work is the investment they make in the next generation of peacebuilders. Rev. Wuye often emphasises the need for mentorship for young people and facilitating constructive dialogue across generations, noting that only when experiences and knowledge from the past are shared with those who will shape the future can sustainable peace really begin to be achieved. Similarly, Imam Ashafa has spoken of how their work is having an increasing impact internationally, with projects like the Ashafa Peace Academy representing a particular space where cross-cultural understanding is fostered and young people from across the Commonwealth are developed as leaders for peacebuilding. The 30-year legacy of the IMC has therefore attracted attention from leaders of the Commonwealth and international partners. In his address, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Prof. Luis Franceschi, underlined that the beginning of the IMC had a particular generation set in a context of conflict and praised them for choosing to pursue dialogue rather than violence. He commended them for the success registered by growing a movement that continues to bridge the divide among and between its members, strengthens democratic resilience, and inspires communities across Africa and other parts of the Commonwealth. The Khalili Foundation has also shared admiration for the works of IMC under the leadership of its chairman, Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili. The foundation advances a shared vision with IMC that lasting peace must underpin strong communities and national prosperity. Indeed, the support went way beyond the Commonwealth Peace Prize to cover such initiatives as the monthly Peace Talks Series. In this programme, accomplished peace practitioners, youth ambassadors, and development partners share insights aimed at strengthening networks and advancing peace education. Rev. Wuye and Imam Ashafa led the first webinar in this series, offering participants valuable lessons from their vast experience in the field. This commitment to empowering the youth and women lies at the very heart of the work undertaken by the IMC. Youth serve actively as ambassadors of peace, while the centre equips women, religious scholars, and traditional leaders with the means to advocate for peace in their communities. Most amazingly, the IMC has successfully instilled confidence in even the militia groups, demonstrating the potential of inclusive dialogue and community-owned reconciliation processes. The cooperation and understanding created by the Center have ripples that extend well beyond Nigeria’s borders. Imam Ashafa often refers to one of the guiding principles of their mission: peace at a personal level cannot be separated from peace within communities, nations, and greater humanity. This is the perspective framing the IMC belief that sustainable peace commences with individual responsibility coupled with collective commitment. Ahead, the Commonwealth Peace Prize will, every three years, continue to be awarded to distinguished peacebuilders who have shown exceptional faith-based and values-driven approaches to conflict resolution, social cohesion, and sustainable peace.
