The American University of Nigeria in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria, recently celebrated the graduation of the fourth cohort of participants from its Humanitarian Development Peace Nexus (HDPN) training. Held from May 5 to 9, 2025, the five-day program brought together 27 trainees from 22 organizations, focusing on equipping professionals with the interdisciplinary skills needed to address complex humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding challenges.
The training, which took place at AUN’s Waziri Hall and culminated in the AUN e-Library Auditorium, aimed to foster collaboration and build capacity among non-governmental organization (NGO) actors working in these critical sectors. By integrating the HDP Nexus approach, the initiative sought to encourage cross-sectoral coordination and a collective, smart response to global humanitarian crises.
Key highlights of the training included an interdisciplinary approach that brought together experts and participants from various fields, facilitating a sharing of insights and best practices in humanitarian development and peacebuilding. The program underscored the importance of peacebuilding and sustainable development in fostering resilient communities and social cohesion.
In his remarks, AUN President, Dr. DeWayne Frazier, congratulated the participants and reaffirmed the university's commitment to capacity building and humanitarian action. He emphasized the power of collaboration, stating, “I like the popular saying that, if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.”
David Habba, who represented ActionAid’s Country Director, highlighted the shifting dynamics in humanitarian funding and the need for a paradigm shift in addressing ongoing crises. He noted, "Our world is changing, and along with it, the way we work within and across humanitarian, development, and peace sectors, at this time, is faster than we can think and predict. The days of business as usual are over, " he reiterated.
The HDPN Training Lead and Consultant, Ms. Vanessa Njingita-Williams, emphasized the importance of the Nexus approach, calling for long-term solutions to address the needs of vulnerable populations. "The Humanitarian Development Peace Nexus is crucial in addressing the complex challenges we face today. We are partnering with AUN on this training, and other tertiary institutions, to provide practitioners with a new framework for quality action,” she said.
Reported by John Abah