About this event

Embark on a Journey Beyond Conflict with "Beyond Boko Haram: Educating for Peace and Development in NE Nigeria"! Explore the boundless potentials of education as a catalyst for peace and development amid crisis. In this video Dr. Margee Ensign addresses practical and effective educational outreach by U.S. institutions, illustrating how targeted, empathetic, and strategic interventions can significantly bolster local communities in crisis management. Dive deep into the engrossing experiences and invaluable lessons gleaned by a seasoned U.S. educator, navigating through the intricate tapestry of crisis management and peacebuilding, while being threatened by Boko Haram. This video is not merely a depiction of triumphant stories and strategies but a compelling call to action for leaders and practitioners worldwide to intertwine education, empathy, and empowerment in areas scarred by conflict and deprivation. Dr. Ensign is a long-time advocate for connecting learning to community engagement. For eight years, as the president of AUN, Africa’s development university she led the Adamawa Peace Initiative (API). This community-led organization successfully countered Boko Haram in Northeast Nigeria through youth empowerment, education, and humanitarian assistance for 300,000 refugees. She also led the efforts to bring the students kidnapped in Chibok to AUN. Here she shares her insight on civilian peacebuilding efforts addressing in particular the positive role and practice of how educational institutions, local action and community engagement can mitigate conflict. Recommended Reading: Confronting Genocide in Rwanda: Dehumanization, Denial, and Strategies for Prevention. Edited by Gasanabo, Jean-Damascène, David J. Simon, and Margee M. Ensign, eds. Kigali, Rwanda: CNLG, 2015. Nigerian university tackles extremism and hunger: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-36925993 Local action to protect communities in Nigeria: https://www.fmreview.org/community-protection/ensign “We are Obsessed with Peace”: A Story of Peace Building in Northeastern Nigeria https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299346768_We_are_Obsessed_with_Peace_A_Story_of_Peace_Building_in_Northeastern_Nigeria For more information follow us on our website and social media platforms. Website: https://jsou.edu/ LinkedIn:   / thinkjsou Twitter:   / thinkjsou   Facebook:   / thinkjsou   YouTube: @thinkjsou The views expressed in this video are entirely those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views, policy, or position of the United States Government, Department of Defense, United States Special Operations Command, or Joint Special Operations University.