Abadina Dialogues for Peace, Inclusion for Collaborative Progress

The Community Dialogues marked a significant step toward strengthening peace, inclusion, and collaborative development within Abadina.

Located at the heart of the University of Ibadan, Abadina is Nigeria’s oldest university residential community, established in 1948. It is home to over 400 households of junior staff members and more than 3,000 residents, representing diverse ethnic and religious groups.

Convened under the framework of the Regional Dialogues for Peace, Inclusion, and Community Healing, the community dialogues took place on Saturday, August 23, 2025, with 28 participants in attendance. The session localized insights from the July 2025 regional dialogues and adapted them to the specific realities and aspirations of the Abadina community.

Participants included elected councilors representing various wards of the community, women and youth leaders, and three representatives of local non-profit organizations. The dialogue combined interactive activities with structured discussions to foster engagement, deepen mutual understanding, and generate practical ideas for collective action.

Key conversations examined existing inclusive and collaborative community achievements, including:

* The establishment of a joint community security watch.

* The operation of an infant crèche for working parents.

* The provision of scholarships for students from the community.

* The practice of thrift and co-operatives.

Critical challenges were also identified, notably gender-based violence (GBV), waste management, and poor health concerns in the community.

The workshop created a platform for actionable commitments. SuperMum Charity Initiative, in partnership with the Eureka Learners Foundation, is committed to implementing a gender-based violence sensitization program for the community in September 2025, Kings Community Development Initiative pledged to conduct a medical outreach in October, while the Ubuntu Leaders Academy proposed regular Ubuntu awareness activities for residents of the community.

In addition, participants discussed inclusive, small-scale collaborative initiatives aimed at improving the community, such as cross-generational partnerships, clean-up campaigns, peer-support groups, and capacity-building activities to foster resilience and unity. They were particularly drawn to the concept of time-banking and decided to give the practice a try.

The event concluded with the presentation of certificates and group photographs, symbolizing a collective commitment to building a more peaceful, inclusive, and thriving Abadina.