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During nationwide protests and riots in 2012, the American University of Nigeria reached out to prominent Muslim and Christian leaders, traditional rulers, and business and community leaders for a discussion.

According to the article, we are Obsessed with Peace A Story of Peace building in northeastern Nigeria.

This created an initiative committed to peace, women's empowerment and socio economic equality.

Tonight we talk with members of this initiative and find out how they're keeping the peace in the city of Yola today.

I'm so happy you're joining us.

From Los Angeles.

This is KLCS PBS.

Welcome to everybody with Angela Williamson and innovation, Arts, education and Public Affairs program.

Everybody with Angela Williamson is made possible by viewers like you.

Thank you.

Many of people culturally, they give more priority to religious organizations, and they are used to have been attacks in mosques, churches around the country.

What does what is happening like?

Like I'm talking about killing and all of these things.

And many people wanted to withdraw their students from the university would altogether.

I agree that, look, this is not good.

Let us stop it and we stop it.

The wisdom of the former president of and decided to form this community outfit so that people will have more confidence, in the community as well as the university.

The FBI was the call to all the people all around the nation, all around the state to tell us about the things that are happening.

API consists of, many religious organizations, community organizations to stabilize security around a AUM and also around Adamawa State.

Will be able to put up a school.

And then after that, we build a hospital.

There is so much need here.

So many people that are in pens.

Truly we intervene.

Sometimes we get some projects that can put them together, especially supporting.

Both sides may come and support and compete.

Many people will feel that we have given a new hope by bringing all the warring factions together to discuss and to talk and to interact.

Many people told me that if to say there is no API, that there would have been a chaos in this, in this state.

Is doing the right thing.

But that's good ones.

It.

I'm here at the American University of Nigeria to talk about their community footprint with our Director of Community Services.

Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you.

Before we start to talk about what you do, tell our audience your name already said your position and how long you've been part of this community here.

Thank you very much.

My name is Ahmed Aliyu.

Currently, I'm the director of community service here at the American University.

I joined a UN since 2005, in that first semester, although back then I was in residence life.

I worked in residence life for about six years before moving on to community service.

Ever since I started as the coordinator and community service, and now I'm the director of that unit.

And tell us about the community service and what it does and how it helps the community around the American University of Nigeria.

We are a developing university.

The concept of a developing university is, we want the community to feel the impact of the university.

While the university grows, the university, the community tissue grows along, and that's where my role comes in.

Basically, I play the role of link in the community to the university and then take in the university to the community as well.

I will explain further.

Yes.

At the beginning of every semester, we get, we generate request from the community.

They write letters, sending requests to my office, and then I collect that, put them together, and then we share it with our students.

What we do comes in two forms.

The support either comes directly from the university, but majority of what?

The support we give the community comes from the students.

And what are they asking for in these letters?

Just before I walked in here, I got a request from your community.

We have two orphans.

The father and the mother are late, and they're out of school right now.

The accident is to see how we can roll them back to school.

Basically, this is a part of what we do a rolling them back to school.

We have to go choose a school that was symptom and then get the fees, the necessary fees that are required.

We get, our students, we advertise it to our students.

They come up, come together, put up the fee.

We do the uniform, buy books, and then we roll them back to school.

This is just one form of what we do.

And, or that request that comes.

Some might be medical bills.

People that are sick cannot afford to pay their medical bills.

We get the medical bill.

We advertise it to a student, we share it with our students, and then generously, they donate.

And then we pay off medical bills.

So what you're telling me here is that the students at the American University of Nigeria, not only are they here to get their education, their degrees, but what they're also doing too, is they are taking it one step further and making sure people in the community have the basic necessities, the basic needs.

Right?

Yes.

The main idea is expose our students to the problems.

And I, we are a developing nation.

Where in Africa, where Nigeria, the problem are multitude.

Government cannot do everything.

So basically we try to teach our students, get to the root, know their problems while you're still in school.

By the time you get out there, you are already familiar with some of the problems that are peculiar in our communities down here.

So getting solutions to this problem might not be too difficult for them because we try to not only showing them, getting them to know what the problem is.

We'll try to work with them to get solutions to these problems.

Tell us about how important innovation I'm pointing to that one finger because you use it for innovation.

Why is innovation so important?

You discover that the schools we have, especially the public schools that is managed by the government, are poorly funded infrastructure wise, facility wise.

And, we try to step it up to see how we can help by either providing the writing materials, classroom furnishing it, renovating the entire classroom itself.

I'll give you one instance.

That's a girls school here in Demeter.

The population of the school is over a thousand girls.

It's a purely gas school.

They have the roofs blown off.

And, some of the residents, some of the students are still staying in those uncompleted, dilapidated buildings.

What we did, we got pictures of it, and we advertised to our students.

They were able to raise money.

We fixed the roof, fixed the windows and down the street.

And in those rooms they are happy.

So, if you move around, like in public schools, you see a handful of students with torn uniforms, no sandals, no school bags, and they are still required to come to school.

Sometimes we get, our students donate money, put money together.

We saw uniforms.

We go to the schools, we shit to those that need it.

So, sometimes some of us student cook food.

We go to the streets, meet, the vulnerable, and then we create basically this semester.

One of the major thing we are working on is try to get as many as we can out of school children, get them enroll back to school because we have a handful of them around.

Demeter and Yola, most especially girls.

And why do we have more girls and more vulnerable?

Tell us how.

Up here is easier for our people to believe?

Educating a girl child, especially in Yola, is more like wasting resources.

At the end of the day, she is going to get married.

It's easier for them to marry her off than to get her educated.

So the focus always is not on a good child is more on a male child because they have that belief that if you educate a male child your investment, you are investing in something that will return back to you.

But if you had to get a girl child, she would end up marrying somebody else and he will be the one to enjoy that benefit.

So we try as much as possible to bridge that gap, and that's why we concentrated most on the girl child.

And then if you move around Demeter and Yola, you will see majority of those.

You see Hawkin carrying three on their head, selling girls.

So we have more looking at that one.

Be right to say we have more girls out of school than more boys than boys.

That's why we are focusing on the girls, not that we are not doing.

The boys were also doing the boys, but we are more of the girls.

Wow.

And where do you see the future of that program?

Well, the impact on the long run.

We we try to see if, as we are doing this, we try to sensitize the community members as to understand the importance of a girl child and also a boy child.

And education is for all.

So we try as much as possible and our model is working.

Tell me more about the awareness campaign.

What I can tell you we're getting there.

The awareness is getting fast and, in the past we go after this.

Girls trying to convince their parents to let us enroll them back to school.

Now we're having parents right in to us.

Just like I said earlier.

Yeah.

Before I came into this, I got a request from the community.

Somebody brought in a letter which was in the envelope I hold before coming here.

We have two orphans.

They want us to enroll them back to school, which I started advertising to our students outside, and they promised to do something about it.

So the awareness, we are really making an impact in the community.

Because just like I told you, they are coming to us now.

We don't have to go through the stress of going to them.

They are coming to us to say, okay, I see what you have done to this and that and this is my own tone.

If you have that chance, please help me.

I have this as well.

Well then you talked about enrolling the two children back into school, and this is something that does not happen in America.

Can you explain a little bit about the educational system?

Because from what I'm understanding, parents have to pay for their children to be in school, correct?

Yes.

Explain that.

Educate our audience.

In Nigeria, we have different categories of, schools that children attend.

We have, I don't know how you call it, but we have primary.

Schools, we have primary.

We have secondary.

We have secondary, junior.

High and higher.

And from there you go to the tertiary.

So basically getting that basics.

The primary school is a bit difficult for parents, because when you speak with them, they will tell you my priority is to feed the child.

And that is what I'm struggling with right now.

Because they to go to primary school, everyone has to pay.

You have to pay.

Although the amount might be too small, might be meager.

But then there still parent that cannot afford to pay that is something you do continuously is not something like a one time thing.

You say, okay, let me make that effort.

I'm enrolled in, we have to get books.

We have to get uniforms.

We have to get send us.

We have to pay the fees.

And that is one part that is actually scaring the parents away from their.

And, on the average, some of the family, the families set in here in Yola, you see a man with about 3 or 4 wives, and on the average he has about 11 or 12 kids at all.

You have to treat them as individuals and it becomes difficult.

And that is why they prefer sending them on trades, selling things on the streets and then ignoring the educational part.

The main priority for them is feeding.

Yes, it's not education.

Well, and we're talking that's the basic need for a lot of people would be food.

And so you need to feed your family.

And that is why we failed.

Maybe if we stepped in we support them by paying the fees, getting the books and, getting them enroll back to schools.

Probably the parent might pick it up from the the initial cost of getting them is what is a bit high, but the continuous, the sustenance every time you pay that one is not that high.

The amount required is not that high.

We are almost done with our time today.

Thank you so much for your time and talking about the Community Services Department, I wanted to ask you, what do you see your legacy as in this position, in what it does in the community?

Well, I can comfortably tell you there's no public school in Jamaica and Yola that's within our community.

Close that we even that we've not done one or 2 or 3 projects that, be it infrastructure wise and rolling students.

So I see people can, for example, if I walk on the streets, I was in Dimetapp market.

I ran into a parent who said, oh, Mr. Lee, you how are you?

I was like, I don't know you.

You said you remember I wrote my child in school about five years ago.

I was like, did I do that?

He said, yes, how can you forget?

I said, because we did a lot.

So the impact is out there.

People are actually excited that we're doing this, and they keep coming to us to say, okay, please help me with this, help me with that, help with that, and the backbone of all the things we are doing for students.

Well, thank you for leading the students to make this community impact.

These students here are absolutely amazing.

And to spend that time to make sure the community is a better place.

I applaud you.

Thank you ma'am.

We'll be right back.

I don't remember how it started.

To that.

Our back and forth.

It always came.

Back.

Thanks, dad.

You probably don't remember what you told me.

That was.

Perfect.

But I heard every word.

Welcome back.

I'm with the American University of Nigeria's community and engagement officer.

Thank you so much for being here.

Welcome.

And thank you to me too.

Before we actually talk about why you're here today, please let our audience know your first and last name and what you do here at the American University of Nigeria.

My name's Tori.

I don't know whether you spell it properly.

Tori.

A kinder and I am the community engagement officer of the Atiku Center.

That is the, Atiku Institute for development.

And I have been there for about, 8 to 9 years now.

Yes, I've been here since, Maggie.

And since that she was there.

She was the one who brought me on board because, I have my own NGO, that is called center for Women and Adolescent Empowerment.

And, during the AP time, you know, they covered a lot of, NGOs.

Traditional rulers, religious rulers, market association, whatever.

All the groups in Adamawa State, they gather them together to come and, assist in the, within the the Boko Haram, problems, but to bring them together to see how they can solve or they can stop it coming into Yola.

So my angel was among the NGOs that they picked is they don't pick an angel, but they pick a representative of the NGO and I would I, I was there said, coordinator of the NGO.

So I came on board when she saw what we have been doing.

And relating or working in our communities, she became impressed.

And I guess one, one thing in her, when she sees somebody somewhere doing something she feels is very is a very good person or great person.

And so try it.

And we, we came on board the AUSA to come and help us develop the work of the, the A and work in the communities.

Can you talk a little bit about what API stands for and what it means?

Because it's a it's an incredible initiative.

API stands for, helping to develop.

Adams State, also to protect other state from the, insurgency that was arising that, because it did not start here is that it's somewhere.

So before it's reached Yola, they decided that let them come together and form that group.

They're a strong group.

And, people came from all over, like, pastors from all over the northeast.

And some community leaders, all that group that I call the market associations of every thought have come all together in this area to see that we try to stop the, the, the, the menace of the insurgency coming into Yola.

But, unfortunately, all I can say, fortunately, before we.

We have we had the proper meetings and so on and so forth.

The insurgency have already escalated to our areas.

That is the Boko Haram.

Boko Haram have already entered the nearby places that live near Yola.

Like movie.

you have about 20-30 people in one person's house.

Even myself, in my house I had about 18 people that you have to give them space to stay in your house, and you don't even need to give them rooms, even on your veranda porch, which is they will stay there and sleep with their children.

And so everywhere in Yola was filled up.

Yes, because they all ran for their lives to this place.

Yes.

And they are.

You know, when they say run, you run without anything?

Yes.

No.

Close.

Some of them.

No clothes.

Don't move them.

No shoes.

Some of them.

It left some of the people behind there.

Okay.

Let's not be even thinking about this kind of thing again.

So it was, the influx of these people coming that made the API to work diligently because my God did everything you can think of to see that these people have been assisted to stay in this area.

And, the irony of it, sometimes they think it's a religious problem.

That's why they brought together the religious bodies, the Muslim and the Christians, imams and the pastors together so that they can talk to their people.

And everyone was.

There every they all collectively stayed together so that we can make sure that these people live peacefully.

That's why she created this peace through what?

There is a, a group, well known has now moved to the U.S they she, she met him to start peace through sports so that the young ones, the Christians and the Muslims can come together and live together and play together so that they can live peacefully.

That's why it was a great, success.

The peace through sports.

Because some people or some funders funded the program from the U.S.

Yes.

To see that they bring the youth together.

And why do you think that that's so important?

Because we talked about youth in getting that geographic.

Why do you think that that was so important part of that plan, the peace initiative plan.

The youth are the ones with the, behind all these problems.

You know, having nothing to do is what brings trouble from the young people.

So she created schools.

The schools they left behind, the primary schools, the secondary school.

She tried to organize a, a channel where they can sit the, the a young people or community just went there and do some trenches for them to so that they can have that education back, because she believed that without the education, they cannot live peacefully.

Yes.

So she created the school, recite then and then created peace through sports.

In is the feed feed and read program.

Is it based on what you've learned from the peace through sports and through the schools that were started?

Yes.

Whatever I tell you, it's all start by magic.

McGee was a president here.

She.

Her house is just in Yola.

But.

It's just in Yola.

So on her way.

Coming to to the area where she always meet or meet this young almajiri.

We call them Almajiri.

I don't know whether you have met them on the way.

You see young, young boys, anywhere they go, they would beg for food.

So and away you stop to buy something.

Somewhere you come, you see them, they will come a lot around.

You are begging you to give them money because in, you know food.

But you can give them money when they meet you in your eating place home.

Then you give them food to be put in those dishes.

So she kept asking us, why are these children carrying this in these dishes?

We told her, they're begging for food.

So she said, why don't they go to school for education?

We told them because the will not agree.

They are not here for the formal education.

They are here for the Koranic education.

Then you say no.

Let's help them.

So within the AP members, because I told you they are religious leaders and, community leaders, then they made it that they will talk to the, Muslims, the mullahs that they will talk to them, that they should allow these children to go to school.

If not, they will stop them from having to to teach the children within the communities they should.

And, you know, they they come from somewhere to just like the children.

They come from different parts of the country.

Some come from other states.

So with that, they contacted the Muslims and told them that they will be giving them the formal education that, but it's just not for a very little just two hours a day.

Yes, they will give them, literacy and numeracy classes and then give them the food.

So with that, my kid started the, feeder.

It that is a perfect way to end our conversation.

Thank you so much for talking about this peace initiative, because I know it's part of a UN's history, but it's what you're doing to take care of our youth as we move forward into the future.

Thank you so much.

So I will thank you.

Thank you for joining us on everybody with Angela Williamson at the American University of Nigeria.

Viewers like you make this show possible.

Join us on social media to continue this conversation.

Good night and stay well.

of, people culturally, they give more priority to religious organizations.

And they are used to have been attacks in mosques, churches around the country.

What does what is happening like?

Like I'm talking about killing and all of these things.

And many people wanted to withdraw their students from the, university.

We all together agree that, look, this is not good.

Let us stop it.

And we stopped it.

The wisdom of the former president of A and decided to form this community outfit so that, people will have more confidence, in the community as well as the university.

The FBI was the call to all the people all around the nation, all around the state, to tell us about the things that are happening.

And they all came together and agreed together, the group that these things that are happening, it will it will affect this state, you know, and then we will all sit down together.

And we agreed.

API consists of, many religious organizations, community organizations to stabilize security around a U.N. and also around Adamawa State.

If it wasn't was meant to do to help the people.

And, we have many people in different ways.

First of all, we started, with Founder's Day, all these students, the community around, we all gather to celebrate so as to integrate the numerous, tribes or religious interaction as well as, in with most of our community members.

We be able to, to, to put up a school.

And then after that we build a hospital so that there is so much need here.

So many people that are in pens.

Truly we intervene.

Sometimes we get some projects that can put them together, especially squatting.

Both sides may come and support and compete.

Many people feel that we have given a new hope by bringing all the warring factions together to discuss and to talk and interact.

Many people told me that if to say there is no API, that that would, that would have been a chaos in this district.

He's just doing.

The right thing.

Good.

That's good ones.

It.

Hi, I'm Angela Williamson, host of everybody with Angela Williamson.

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