Alongside my academic work, I have extensive experience as a practitioner and policy adviser, particularly on peacebuilding, resilience, and civilian protection in conflict-affected regions. I am the Founder of the Youth Initiative Against Terrorism (YIAT), a youth-led organisation that engages young people in preventing violent extremism, supporting survivors of terrorism, and promoting peacebuilding in Nigeria. Through YIAT, I have designed and implemented community-based programmes on dialogue, resilience, and youth inclusion, working closely with local leaders, women’s groups, and international partners. For this work, I received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award in 2016 and the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) Award in 2018.

In addition, I have worked with leading international organisations, including:

  • Mercy Corps, International Alert, and ODI – Supported peacebuilding and community development initiatives with a focus on conflict prevention, governance, and local participation.

  • African Union, European Union, and United States Institute of Peace – Served as a Fellow and Advisory Council member, contributing to policy discussions and strategy on civilian protection, violent extremism, and youth inclusion.

Through these roles, I have participated in high-level policy dialogues, including speaking at the United Nations and serving as a panellist at regional and global forums on peace and security.

Public Scholarship / Op-eds

2026. What Endures in Borno Are the People. The Republic.

2025. Resilience Interventions in Northeastern Nigeria. African Arguments.

2024. The drug menace in the heartland of the Boko Haram insurgency. African Arguments.

2023. Bandits in Nigeria: How protection payments to militias escalate conflict in the north-west. The Conversation.

2023. Security in Nigeria: Bola Tinubu will increase tension in some parts of the country and reduce it in others. The Conversation.

2023. How Nigeria avoided organised violence during the 2023 elections. African Arguments.

2023. Lost Childhoods: The devastating impact of the Boko Haram war on Nigerian children.Shuddhashar Freevoice.

2021. Nigeria, it’s time to strengthen security engagements at the local level.Neptune Prime.