Follow @davidblawal
“I want the light in the life of every YALI Network member to shine so bright that others might, through their light, find their way”. These were the words of Prosper Egeonu.
By the time he was 30, Prosper Egeonu had witnessed too much violence in Jos, the capital city of Plateau state – central Nigeria. He didn’t want to see any more.
Thousands have died in conflict that has erupted in outbreaks of violence for more than a decade. Indigenous people and settlers from other ethnic groups clash over land, power and resources.
Having experienced the horrific acts of inter-community violence in his youth, Egeonu began to devote his business, civic and personal activities to ending violence.
Prosper Egeonu and other young leaders participate in a daylong National Youth Leadership Summit in October 2014.
In 2009 Egeonu, a YALI Network member, joined the Jos Crisis Appeal Fund (JCAF) as a volunteer, determined to get more people in the state capital to stand up to the horrific acts.
JCAF is a partnership between Christians, Muslims and civil society groups that raises funds to provide financial assistance, medical attention and education to local families affected by conflict.
This grass-roots civic group also helps displaced families find stable homes, and funds organizations that work for peace.
In 2010, Egeonu started Swagg News Africa, a media entertainment group, and Stanperz Conceptz, a roofing business. He combined the outreach efforts of both enterprises to start the “Stop the Violence” campaign.
The campaign aims to promote awareness of peace and to provide a talent showcase for youth from all religions. He partnered with a local radio station to provide youth with the entertainment program Friday Night Dance Party with Joey.
He went on to partner with the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria to further get the message of peace to music fans. He even recruited young U.S. hip-hop artist Akon and actor J.D. Williams to craft messages to “stop the violence.”
Continuing his pursuit of peace, in 2013 Egeonu joined the national nonprofit Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace (DREP) as a volunteer trainer.
According to him, DREP brings together youth, women, and local leaders of various religious and ethnic groups to learn from each other about how they can “resolve issues that would otherwise result in violent confrontation” and create peace.
While Egeonu admits that his efforts to reach his goal can sometimes be frustrating — volunteers become disinterested, illiteracy among some in the target groups limits his ability to get messages through, and financial constraints limit DREP’s peace building efforts from reaching more rural communities – he remains determined.
“Responses I get from people I reach have been positive,” he said. He suggests more training in leadership and team-building for fellow volunteers in order to help them stay interested.
Egeonu is active in the YALI Network and especially likes the #YALICHAT discussion forum. He has earned YALI Network certificates for online courses in civic leadership, business and entrepreneurship, and public management.
“I have learned a lot from YALI resource information. It has built me to be a better leader,” he said, adding that the highest call of leadership is ‘unlocking the potential of other people.’
He therefore urges other youth to join YALI and to engage their communities to help solve problems.
“I want the light in the life of every YALI Network member to shine so bright that others might, through their light, find their way,” he summed.
