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.

Aims & Objectives

  1. 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.