ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

Name Peace Corps of Nigeria
Address

 

 Plot 57, Iya Abubakar Crescent, Off Alex Ekwueme Way, Opposite Jabi Lake, Abuja
Country Nigeria
Legal Status Incorporated under the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (No. IT 14589, dated May 1, 2002)

Federal Government of Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Corps to validate and support its operations nationwide
email address info@peacecorps.org.ng
Website www.peacecorps.org.ng
Tel +2347036021222, +2347062122415
Contact person  National Commandant

Dr Dickson A.O. Akoh, FCITr, FCPA, FNSIS, fnli
Email address nc@peacecorps.org.ng
Alternate contact person Peace Corps Secretary- Mrs Gloria Amadi
Email address pcs@peacecorps.org.ng

 

ABOUT US

 

Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) is a Paramilitary Youth Organization incorporated under the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (No. IT 14589, dated May 1, 2002). Recognizing the impact of its work, the Federal Government of Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Corps to support and validate its operations nationwide.

 

Founded on July 10, 1998, by renowned youth development strategist Dr Dickson A. O. Akoh, FCITr, FCPA, FNSIS, fnli the Peace Corps of Nigeria stands as a premier youth-led organization dedicated to nation-building and peace promotion. For nearly three decades, the Corps has empowered young citizens across the nation by instilling the core values of ethical leadership, civic responsibility, sustainable community development, and volunteerism.

 

Operating through a disciplined and decentralized structure, the organization maintains an active grassroots presence across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. This nationwide network enables the Corps to mobilize youth effectively, delivering measurable community engagement, social cohesion, and impactful grassroots service across Nigeria.

 

With its core mandate to develop, empower and provide gainful employment for the youth, facilitate peace, volunteerism, community service, neighbourhood watch and nation-building, Peace Corps actively supports peace-building efforts, encourages neighborhood watch initiatives, and drives community-based interventions aimed at strengthening the social fabric of Nigeria.

 

The Peace Corps has earned widespread national and international recognition for its dedication to youth development, peace-building, and community service. Its legal standing, strategic affiliations and institutional partnerships, locally and internationally, reflects the organization’s legitimacy and impact.

 

Aligned with the National Youth Development Policy, the Peace Corps of Nigeria is formally recognized by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and granted approval by the Federal Ministry of Education to operate across Federal Unity Colleges, advancing youth empowerment, civic responsibility, and peace education nationwide.

 

On the global stage, PCN holds Special Consultative Status with both the United Nations and the African Union. The Corps is also a member of international agencies such as UNESCO, UNEP, the UN Global Compact, and the Global Network for Civil Society Organizations, contributing meaningfully to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

Membership is inclusive and accessible to Nigerian youths aged 18 to 35 who hold a minimum of a Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) or equivalent, regardless of socio-economic, ethnic, or religious background. Today, PCN commands a trained workforce exceeding 187,000 personnel, comprising Commissioned Officers, Regular Members, and Volunteers from diverse academic and professional fields, actively committed to the task of nation-building.

 

RAISON D’ETRE OF THE CORPS

The end of the Cold War was widely hailed as a turning point in global relations, with expectations that ideological divisions would give way to lasting peace. However, the past three decades have instead seen a troubling rise in civil unrest, violent conflicts, and insecurity across many parts of the world. Nigeria has not been exempt. From prolonged ethno-religious and political crises to the lingering effects of military rule, civil war, and the unchecked proliferation of small arms, the nation’s youth have become increasingly vulnerable to a culture of violence, thuggery, and banditry.

 

True peace and national harmony are achievable, but only through deliberate and sustained efforts to instill the values of peace-building, disarmament, conflict resolution, and responsible citizenship among young people. This requires structured citizenship and leadership training, as well as patriotic reorientation grounded in discipline and civic responsibility.

 

The foundation of the Peace Corps was born out of this realization:

  1. That youth can only thrive in a peaceful environment, and
  2. That young people possess the innate capacity to be agents of peace and change, if properly guided and empowered.

 

A critical examination of the current challenges facing Nigerian youth reveals a dire need for intervention. The erosion of traditional moral institutions, especially educational and religious system has left many young people without clear values, discipline, or direction. This vacuum has contributed to rising involvement in crime, social unrest, and other forms of antisocial behavior, further threatening national cohesion.

 

In response, the Corps was established to bridge this gap by fostering discipline, moral values, national consciousness, and community service among youth.

 

At the heart of the Corps’ mission is the issue of youth unemployment, a major contributor to youth marginalization and unrest. To address this, the Corps developed the Alternative Employment Scheme (AES), a strategic initiative aimed at engaging unemployed youth in productive, meaningful activities. The AES provides temporary preoccupation and a pathway to self-reliance, dignity, and societal relevance.

 

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The Peace Corps of Nigeria is established to pursue the following strategic objectives:

  1. To lead initiatives in Peace Advocacy, Mediation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to foster reconciliation and sustainable conflict transformation within all Nigerian communities;
  2. To act as a primary reservoir of disciplined manpower for national volunteerism. This includes active involvement in crowd management, emergency relief, the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and supporting national assignments such as elections, census exercises, and public health campaigns;
  3. To establish specialized centers for youth empowerment focused on critical thinking, creativity, entrepreneurship, and technical skill acquisition, preparing the youth for leadership in a modern economy;
  4. To enlist, mobilize, and provide specialized orientation for the youth, developing them into proactive agents of social order and establishing a reliable second line of public safety and community support;
  5. To serve as a strategic think-tank dedicated to educating residents on security awareness and safety measures tailored to the specific needs of their local neighborhoods;
  6. To maintain a “bottom-up” surveillance framework through systematic monitoring, observation, and evaluation. This includes the collection and analysis of intelligence regarding potential threats to peace, ensuring such data is promptly transmitted to statutory security agencies for pre-emptive action; and
  7. To secure educational institutions against external intruders and combat social vices, including cultism and academic dishonesty, thereby ensuring a safe and conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.

 

LEGISLATIVE MILESTONES TOWARD STATUTORY RECOGNITION

Over the past two and a half decades, the Peace Corps of Nigeria has demonstrated a sustained commitment to youth development, social works, and peace-building nationwide. In recognition of its socio-economic impact and contributions to community service, the National Assembly initiated legislative measures to formally establish the organization as a statutory public entity.

 

The Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigerian Peace Corps seeks to provide statutory backing to the organization. Its core mandate encompasses youth empowerment, gainful employment creation, peacebuilding, volunteerism, community service, and neighborhood safety.

 

Following overwhelming support during public hearings and broad national consensus, the Bill has been passed by the 10th House of Representatives and is currently awaiting its third reading in the Senate. Upon passage, the legislation will be transmitted to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for Assent.

 

The successful enactment of this Bill will officially transition the Peace Corps into a statutory government agency, significantly expanding its operational capacity to advance national development, security collaboration, and youth empowerment.

 

FUNDING

The Peace Corps derives its operational funding from:

  1. Membership application, camp registration, and annual ID Card renewals;
  2. Periodic dues as determined by the Board of Trustees;
  • Fund Fair;
  1. Gifts or Bequest
  2. Government subventions or grants from private sector partnerships, local and international donor agency contributions; and
  3. Income generated from organizational assets and sanctioned fundraising events.

 

ABOUT THE FOUNDER/NATIONAL COMMANDANT

Dr Dickson A. O. Akoh, FCITr, FCPA, FNSIS, fnli, is a globally recognized leader in youth development, peace-building, and social engineering. As the visionary founder of the Peace Corps of Nigeria on the 10th of July, 1998 in the city of Kaduna.

 

An accomplished academic and strategist, Dr Akoh holds degrees in Sociology and Criminology from the University of Abuja, an honorary Doctorate Degree from Commonwealth University, Belize, South America and a Professorship in Social Work from Freedom University, Pottstown, Pennsylvania. USA. Based on his expertise in the field of peace and security, the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council appointed him as Head of the Peace and Security Cluster Committee (2020–2022).

 

His commitment to social transformation and institutional advancement is reflected in key national and international appointments, including his service on the Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology, Babura, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. This is further solidified by his appointment as the pioneer National Coordinator for Nigeria by the International Consortium for Societal Resilience (i-NCSR+) at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, establishing him as a global advocate for sustainable progress and societal resilience.

 

A decorated humanitarian with over 120 national and international awards, Dr Akoh is also a revered cultural icon, holding the prestigious title of Oyachaba K’Idoma. (“The great Achiever”) bestowed by the Idoma Area Traditional Council in Benue State, Nigeria. His career represents a unique synthesis of discipline and civic responsibility, positioning the Peace Corps as a vital partner in intelligence gathering and safety. Through visionary leadership, Dr Akoh remains a primary architect of structured youth engagement and sustainable societal progress in Nigeria.

 

ORGANS OF THE CORPS

 

The Board of Trustees

The Board, being the highest organ of the Corps in the legal custodian of the Constitution and all assets of the organization.

 

Advisory Council

This is a body of Patrons, Patronesses, Fellows, Ambassadors and Advisers given honourably to men and women of proven integrity in recognition or their contributions to the peace, growth and stability of the Country.

 

 

 

Peace Corps Council

This body is chaired by the National Commandant and it serves as a think-tank, policy making and advisory body towards the effective implementation of the aims and objectives of the organization.

 

Peace Corps Management Team

This is a body having as head, the National Commandant and its membership comprises of all appointees at the national level. It is charged with the responsibility of implementing the day to day administration, and programmes of the organization at the national level.

 

HEADQUARTERS STRUCTURE/AUTHORITY

The Headquarters is the central and indissoluble governing hub of the Peace Corps. It is responsible for the execution of the Constitution and the implementation of organizational policies. The executive powers of the Headquarters are vested in the National Commandant, exercised either directly or through delegated Deputies or national appointees.

 

The Headquarters is organized into seven distinct yet collaborative departments, each headed by a Deputy National Commandant (DNC):

 

S/N Department Primary Focus Key Responsibilities
1 Administration Personnel & Human Resources Management of staff records, recruitment exercises, promotion cycles, welfare schemes, and internal discipline (Provost Marshal).
2 Finance and Accounts Fiscal Management Budget preparation and defense, management of payroll, financial auditing, revenue tracking, and liaison with funding partners.
3 Logistics and Supply Asset & Infrastructure Procurement and distribution of uniforms and kits, maintenance of office facilities, fleet management, and inventory control.
4 Training and Operations Capacity & Field Work Oversight of Training programs, curriculum development for cadets, deployment of personnel for community service, and complementary security support.
5 Policy and Plans Strategy & Research Formulation of organizational policies, strategic planning, data collection, and monitoring/evaluation of ongoing projects and initiatives.
6 Intelligence and Security Information & Protection Strategic intelligence gathering, background checks on personnel, risk assessment, and safeguarding the integrity of the Corps’ operations.
7 General Services and Programs ICT & Outreach Management of digital infrastructure (ICT), coordination of vocational mastery programs, youth entrepreneurship initiatives, and public relations.

 

 

RECOGNITION AND ACHIEVEMENTS

 

Through a steadfast commitment to youth empowerment and peace-building, the Peace Corps has achieved key milestones, among which includes:

 

  1. Expanded from an initial team of 13 to over 187,000 regular members and volunteers, predominantly composed of graduates across diverse disciplines;
  2. Formally incorporated under Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, and granted operational approval across all 36 States and Federal Capital Territory;
  3. Advanced the Nigerian Peace Corps Establishment Bill in the National Assembly to secure statutory backing as a national institution;
  4. Executed strategic Memoranda of Understanding with the Federal Government validating and supporting the activities of the Corps nationwide;
  5. Formal operational approval from the Federal Ministry of Education to establish and coordinate Peace Corps activities across Federal Government Colleges nationwide;
  6. Officially accredited by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Corps actively provides emergency relief interventions and humanitarian support to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the country.
  7. Granted affiliation and maintains prominent membership in the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), the apex umbrella body for all voluntary youth organizations in the country.
  8. Conferred Special Consultative Status by the United Nations (ECOSOC) and the African Union (AU-ECOSOCC), alongside active affiliations with UNESCO, UNCTAD, UNEP, and the UN Global Compact;
  9. Sponsored over the years high-powered delegations of the Corps to major global summits, including the UN General Assembly in New York, Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and diplomatic sessions in Geneva and Nairobi;
  10. Ongoing construction of a 17.7-hectare Peace Corps Academy in Benue State as a premier hub for citizenship and leadership training; entrepreneurship, and vocational skills acquisition;
  11. Annually observed and sponsored the UN International Day of Peace since 2011, while establishing honors such as the International Peace Awards, International Peace Medals, Senior Advocate of Peace and Sustainable Development Goals Ambassador’s Awards;
  12. Received over 138 national and international awards in recognition of excellence in humanitarian services and nation-building; and
  13. Direct economic empowerment initiatives for core personnel, including the provision of utility vehicles, financial grants to support medium business ventures and welfare support schemes.