MDCL has also partnered with British Council’s Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) to design and manage the 18 month PVCP, a project meant to provide a counter-narrative for youths through positive messaging and mentoring using role models (Positive Voices) in five states; Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and Yobe. The goal of the project is to increase resilience of youths to extremist narratives, and bridge the gap in the effective use of the “soft” approach mechanism in Nigeria to address violent extremism.

Ten potential role models were identified, selected and trained across the five target states, who subsequently  implemented Community Engagement Initiatives (CEIs), mini projects that they had designed themselves in their communities over a period of 12 months. These CEIs, and a mentoring programme, were the vehicles through which the PVs disseminated positive messages.

The PVCP as a project ran for 18 months under British Council sponsorship. However, we continue to sustain the campaign towards building the resilience of our young men and women to extremism and extreme violence.