Victoria Mbangwa
The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has introduced a “Sport for Peace and Mental Health Clinic” designed to integrate physical activity with mental health support.
The initiative was announced as IPCR marked its 25th anniversary in Abuja alongside the 2025 International Day of Peace.
Speaking at a press conference, the Director-General of IPCR, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, said the clinic represents an innovative way of tackling the hidden wounds of conflict.
“This innovative approach acknowledges that sustainable peace requires addressing the physiological dimensions of conflict and trauma while promoting healthy community engagement through sport,” he explained.
The DG also reflected on the broader significance of the day’s theme, “Act Now for a Peaceful World”, stressing that peace cannot be deferred, delegated, or delayed. “It requires immediate, sustained, and coordinated action from individuals, institutions, and nations,” Ochogwu said.
Highlighting IPCR’s achievements over the past 25 years, he noted the institute’s role in training thousands of peace practitioners, mediators, and community leaders, as well as preventing electoral violence, resolving communal disputes, and fostering interfaith dialogue.
He further called on government, civil society, and the private sector to work together in tackling insecurity, banditry, and communal clashes. “Government must prioritize conflict prevention, invest in peacebuilding infrastructure, and ensure that development policies are conflict-sensitive and inclusive,” he urged.
Ochogwu also encouraged the media to adopt conflict-sensitive reporting and religious and traditional leaders to use their influence to promote tolerance and reconciliation.
As part of the anniversary activities, IPCR unveiled interfaith prayer sessions, a peace walk, and a commemorative lecture alongside the new mental health and sports initiative.
“Peace is both a destination and a journey. The past 25 years have shown that sustainable peace is possible when we act with determination and unity. The time for peace is always now,” Ochogwu concluded.
