Nuhu Abdulmalik: On Building Connections and Bridging Divides Through Storytelling

Nuhu Abdulmalik will graduate from the Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) program in April 2024, but his mission to build a more peaceful world is just beginning. Inspired by the ideas of building connection through storytelling and bridging cultural gaps through technology, the MPACS program has opened doors for him to take action on his peacebuilding aspirations and make a difference. 

Growing up in Nigeria, Nuhu completed his undergraduate degree in technical education, and then went on to complete mandatory National youth service in the Northwestern part of the country. After his service, he began working as a radio drama writer, where he worked to discuss sensitive issues in an unconventional way: through audio-based storytelling. His first project focused on the sensitive issue of gender equality: “the Northwest Nigerian region is predominantly Muslim communities, a little bit closed in terms of talking about issues of gender equality”, he explained. As a result, Nuhu’s team was tasked with opening the discussion and encouraging people to think about the issue in an unconventional, community-driven way. Through workshops and discussions with community members, Nuhu’s team developed a setting, characters, and a storyline that covered the concept of positive masculinity. The final product of the year-long project successfully aired on the radio in Sokoto, Nigeria, presenting listeners with concepts that are not typically at the forefront of everyday discussion.

After the success of his first project, Nuhu continued to produce Nigerian radio dramas:

It was Nuhu’s radio drama-related peace work that became the driving force for him to continue his peace education.

Nuhu toyed with the idea of attending a Master’s program in the United States, but he was ultimately swayed by Canada’s consistently high ranking on the Global Peace Index. After his acceptance into the MPACS program at Conrad Grebel, he set off to Canada on what would be his first international trip.

Upon his arrival to the MPACS program, one of the most surprising elements for Nuhu was the seminar-based classroom setup, which was different from his experience back home. The level of engagement provided an interesting sphere to learn and apply concepts that were relevant to his own peace work, but the community within the program is what really struck him:

For Nuhu, having professors who would check up on him, his family, and his overall well-being made all the difference. This academic community opened doors for him to develop his ideas and bring them to life.

Specifically, he is in the process of developing a project to extend peace education beyond the boundaries of the classroom through a virtual exchange program. The concepts and frameworks taught in his MPACS classes, he says, will provide models that he can apply to the exchanges. His passion for the subject shines through when he describes his vision to mitigate conflict by building understanding through the use of technology: 

Nuhu’s project would extend beyond the typical goals of a virtual exchange and incorporate peace education into the learning space. He attributes much of his progress with this idea to the MPACS program and the connections he has built within the Centre for Peace Advancement (CPA), through experiences like his internship with The Ripple Effect Education (TREE). The ability to learn, exchange ideas, and build community with other like-minded peacebuilders has been invaluable in developing his ideas. During his time in MPACS, Nuhu has made the most of building connections and getting involved. He urged incoming MPACS students to do the same: