Ijeoma Nwafor, country representative of the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), has urged the federal government to include conflict mediation training in the curriculum of the Police Academy and to extend similar training to traditional and religious leaders. She made the call on Monday in Abuja, noting that many Nigerians approach police officers, traditional rulers, pastors, and even pastors' wives to resolve disputes. Nwafor questioned the mediation qualifications of these figures, stating, "That you are a pastor or the wife to a pastor doesn't make you a mediator." She emphasized that since these individuals are already sought out for justice-related matters, equipping them with formal mediation skills would improve outcomes.
Nwafor suggested assigning lawyers to supervise local conflict resolution efforts led by traditional and religious figures. She noted that Nigeria produces over 7,000 lawyers annually, creating room for innovative justice solutions. HiiL currently focuses on land justice, family disputes, gender-based violence, and farmer-herder conflicts, working with partners including the Nigerian Bar Association and state governments. While the organisation does not handle security-related conflicts, Nwafor highlighted that ethnic and criminal elements have intensified farmer-herder disputes.
Ijeoma Nwafor's observation that Nigerians routinely turn to untrained figures like pastors' wives for mediation exposes a critical gap in the justice system. Given that over 7,000 lawyers graduate annually, integrating formal mediation training into institutions like the Police Academy could redirect existing human capital toward structured conflict resolution. This shift would not only professionalize grassroots justice but also reduce reliance on individuals with no certified dispute resolution skills.
