? Set to tackle violent extremism through a regional strategy

In a strategic move to strengthen regional collaboration and unify efforts in countering violent extremism, PAVE Network, in partnership with the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), and other key stakeholders, are set to convene at the North West PCVE Summit.

The summit, as disclosed by the Chair, Development and Management Team, PCVE Knowledge Innovation and Resource Hub, Jaye Gaskia, in a statement made available on Sunday, is scheduled to hold from August 19 to 20, 2025, at the Yar?Adua Centre, Murtala Mohammed Square, Kaduna State.

Organised by the PCVE Knowledge, Innovation and Resource Hub (KIRH) and the PAVE Network, in collaboration with the NCTC-ONSA, the Summit is supported by NEYIF and funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).

According to Gaskia, this landmark summit articulates a cohesive regional framework for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) in the North West, refining state-specific plans and aligning them with national priorities.

He noted that the proposed summit follows previous milestone interventions, including the North West PCVE Training of Trainers and establishing the North West Community of Practice for PCVE Practitioners.

Speaking ahead of the Summit, Gaskia stated: ?The threats posed by violent extremism in the North West require urgent, innovative, and collaborative responses. This Summit is not just a meeting.

"It is a turning point in how we organise ourselves as a region to build resilience and sustain peace.

?We believe in the power of local actors. This Summit will allow community voices to directly influence the policy direction on PCVE in their respective states and as a region.?

The statement further noted that PCVE KIRH, a national-level technical and knowledge support entity, is at the forefront of evidence-informed, coordinated responses to violent extremism in Nigeria. It is a central repository of PCVE knowledge and a hub for practitioner collaboration. It is a flagship initiative of the PAVE Network, implemented with NCTC-ONSA and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), and strategically backed by ActionAid Nigeria.

"The PAVE Network, a civil society coalition with active state-level networks in over 15 Nigerian states, plays a crucial role in amplifying civil society?s voice in national and regional PCVE policies and initiatives.

"With the involvement of state and non-state actors, the Summit. The objectives include refining draft PCVE state plans for the seven North West states, identifying state-specific and regional priorities, and shaping a regional PCVE response framework.

"This framework is envisioned as a pillar of a broader North West Common Security Strategy and will feed into the ongoing national review of the PCVE Policy Framework and National Action Plan (PFNAP)."

According to organizers, the summit's expected outcomes include fine-tuning state PCVE plans, a regional consensus on coordinated responses, and increased awareness of the specific threats and responses to violent extremism across the North West. August 19 to 20.

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