By Ere-ebi Agedah Imisi
In a bid to strengthen the fight against violent extremism in Nigeria, civil society organisation Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PAVE) has launched the Media in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (MAVE) initiative in Abuja.
Speaking during the launch at a two-day Media capacity building, roundtable, Mr. Jaye Gaskiya, Chairman of PAVE’s Steering Committee, emphasized that the media has a critical role to play in de-escalating the growing tide of violent extremism across the country.
“We are here to build a sustainable relationship between civil society actors and the media. Journalists covering peace, security, and crisis issues are uniquely placed to prevent and counter violent extremism in Nigeria,” Gaskiya said.
According to him, despite over a decade of national and international efforts, violent extremism continues to rear its head, often worsening after short-lived progress. He stressed that part of the failure stems from weak early warning and late responses by government and security agencies, despite warning signs being evident.
Highlighting some of the lapses, the PAVE chairman noted that while communities often sense trouble brewing, state actors frequently delay intervention until violence escalates, this, he argued, is where the media becomes indispensable.
“Media practitioners are at the frontline, standing at the intersection between communities, crises, government, and other stakeholders. They don’t just report events, they can raise early warnings, compel early response, and hold authorities accountable when they fail to act,” he explained.
Gaskiya added that the new initiative is designed to create a joint “community of practice” between journalists and civil society organisations. By working together, he said, both groups can spotlight potential crises and push for timely intervention to save lives.
While acknowledging the government’s role in security, he stressed that the media must no longer be passive reporters but active partners in preventing extremism.
Also, Coordinator of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), Ms. Yetunde Adegoke, urged the media to make the fight against violent extremism a mainstream national conversation, warning that the issue can no longer be treated as an isolated or occasional concern.
Adegoke described the engagement as a “watershed moment” for Nigeria’s security landscape.
“This is about sustainability,” she said. “We at GCERF should not be here indefinitely. Our goal is to build structures by strengthening communities, restoring governance at the local level, and rebuilding the social contract between people and government.”
She stressed that violent extremism is often fueled by poor economic opportunities, noting that youth and women remain particularly vulnerable to manipulation. According to her, developing strong local value chains, supporting small and medium enterprises, and expanding cooperative models will provide communities with the resilience needed to resist extremist influences.
“When the youth and women are engaged in productive employment that produces prosperity in society, nobody is willing to risk that stability for ideology, religion, or tribal differences,” she argued.
Adegoke therefore urged the media to take ownership of the narrative, ensuring that discussions around preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE) become part of everyday public discourse. “The media is critical in scaling up solutions. PCVE should not be an unusual term; people must see themselves in it and contribute to remedies,” she said.
Meanwhile, Project Coordinator of ActionAid Nigeria, Mr. Aliyu Adamu, who represented the Country Director, stressed the need to mainstream PCVE across all sectors of national life.
He explained that the media is powerful and has the ability to shape perceptions of entire societies.
Adamu noted that the same pattern applies globally, citing Afghanistan as an example where media narratives fueled fear. He warned that such portrayals not only damage national image but also discourage investment and social cohesion.
“For us, the media must be part of productivity, it can attract investment, it can rebuild trust, and it can help shape how the world sees Nigeria. If we mainstream PCVE in all sectors, we will not only protect national security but also address issues like mental health, unemployment, and the drivers of extremism.” he said.
He urged journalists to see themselves as key actors in peacebuilding, “because the stories they tell can either fuel division or bring communities together.”
