YONAV

Youths of Nigeria Against Violence

Building aNigeriaof Peace.

Born from the ashes of the Tiv/Jukun crisis, YONAV has mobilised over 10,000 Nigerians through the Annual Festival of Peace — championing youth empowerment, dialogue, and national cohesion.

Our Story Get Involved

2001Founded

10K+Participants

7Festivals

“

Every young person is a seed of peace waiting to be nurtured. YONAV exists to create the soil.

Ugochukwu Umeh

Founder, YONAV

Festival of Peace

Youth Empowerment

Community Dialogue

Peace Education

Jalingo, Taraba State — Nigeria

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Peace✦Dignity✦Prosperity✦Unity✦Youth Empowerment✦Non-Violence✦Community✦Nigeria✦Peace✦Dignity✦Prosperity✦Unity✦Youth Empowerment✦Non-Violence✦Community✦Nigeria✦

Who We Are

Vision & Mission

Our Vision

To raise a generation of Nigerian youths committed to ending violence, promoting unity and rebuilding a nation anchored on peace, dignity and shared prosperity.

Our Origin

YONAV was born out of the need to stem the waves of violence threatening to engulf Nigeria. It emerged from the ashes of the catastrophic Tiv/Jukun crisis of 2001/2002, a crisis that Ugochukwu Umeh both witnessed first-hand and was deeply moved by.

Our Mission

To design and implement youth-led initiatives that address the root causes of violence, foster dialogue and build partnerships that advance peace, security and national unity across Nigeria.

Annual Festival of Peace across Nigerian communities

Youth workshops on violence prevention & leadership

Grassroots peacebuilding in schools & communities

Essay competitions fostering peace education

Community dialogue & reconciliation programmes

Partnership with government & institutions

Peace✦Dignity✦Prosperity✦Unity✦Youth Empowerment✦Non-Violence✦Community✦Nigeria✦Peace✦Dignity✦Prosperity✦Unity✦Youth Empowerment✦Non-Violence✦Community✦Nigeria✦

What We Do

Strategic Goals

Goal 01

Prevent & Reduce Violence

YONAV exists first as a stabilising force, actively reducing the incidence of violence involving young people by addressing root causes like unemployment, drug abuse, misinformation, ethnic tensions, and political manipulation.

Grassroots peace education in schools and communities

Early warning and conflict sensitisation programmes

Engaging at-risk youths before recruitment into violent groups

Goal 02

Empower Youths as Agents of Peace

Rather than seeing youths only as a group to be managed, YONAV seeks to transform them into leaders of peacebuilding and community transformation.

Leadership and civic responsibility training

Skills acquisition and livelihood empowerment programmes

Mentorship networks connecting young people with positive role models

Platforms for youth voices in peace and governance discussions

Goal 03

Strengthen Peacebuilding & Influence Policy

YONAV aims to move beyond short-term interventions into systemic peacebuilding by working with communities, traditional institutions, and government bodies.

Community dialogue and reconciliation initiatives

Partnerships with government agencies and peace institutions

Advocacy for youth-inclusive policies and violence prevention frameworks

Data-driven reporting on violence trends to inform national response

The Man Behind YONAV

Our Founder

Ugochukwu Umeh

Founder & Executive Director

YONAV . Est. 2001

M.A. Peace & Conflict Studies, Univ. of Ibadan

Member, Society for Peace Studies and Practice

Peacebuilding Practitioner & Researcher

Teacher of the Word & Entrepreneur

“

Every young person is a seed of peace waiting to be nurtured. YONAV exists to create the soil.

Ugochukwu Umeh is a peacebuilding practitioner, teacher of the Word, entrepreneur, and renowned advocate for non-violence and responsible leadership in Nigeria. He holds a Master's degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, graduating in 2005.

As Founder of YONAV, his flagship initiative, the Annual Festival of Peace, has attracted over 10,000 participants, serving as a strategic platform for peace advocacy, youth engagement, dialogue, and national cohesion across Taraba State and beyond.

As a researcher, he conducted an important study on the humanitarian impact of communal clashes in Nigeria, using the Tiv–Jukun crisis as a case study. His work reflects a deep commitment to conflict transformation, human dignity, and sustainable peace.

2001Founded

10K+Participants

M.A.Peace Studies

TarabaNigeria

Peace✦Dignity✦Prosperity✦Unity✦Youth Empowerment✦Non-Violence✦Community✦Nigeria✦Peace✦Dignity✦Prosperity✦Unity✦Youth Empowerment✦Non-Violence✦Community✦Nigeria✦

Our Journey

History & Archive

From the ashes of the Tiv/Jukun crisis, YONAV has convened seven editions of the Festival of Peace across Taraba State — and now returns with renewed purpose.

2001

The First Festival of Peace

“Let All Men of Peace Draw Near”

11th March 2001AKU UKA Palace, Wukari

Born out of the catastrophic Tiv/Jukun crisis, the very first Festival of Peace was initiated by Ugochukwu Umeh and his team as corps members. Known as the 100,000 Man March Against Violence, approximately 5,000 people participated in this historic event.

~5,000 participants

2002

Second Edition

“Peace Has No Alternative”

March 2002Wukari, Taraba State

The second edition featured a two-day youth workshop before the main festival, drawing an even larger crowd. The workshop deepened dialogue on non-violence among young people across the region.

2-day youth workshop

2003

Breaking Down the Walls

“Breaking Down the Walls That Divide Us”

3rd–5th March 2003Atoshi Recreation Centre, Wukari

The third edition brought primary and secondary schools together for the first time. Students from across Wukari participated in a powerful three-day event focused on unity and shared identity.

Schools joined for first time

1 / 5

2004

Searching for Common Ground

“Searching for a Common Ground for Unity”

March 2004Civic Centre & Rimi Primary School Field, Takum

The festival moved to Takum, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Taraba and Nigeria. Over 12,000 people participated, with the then Commissioner for Information in Taraba, Dr Duwe, as the guest of honour.

12,000+ participants

1 / 5

2005

Reaching Northern Taraba

“Festival of Peace — Jalingo”

9th–11th June 2005Trade Fair Complex, Jalingo

The festival reached Jalingo, the Taraba State capital. Her Excellency Mrs Jolly was the special guest of honour and mother of the day. The event recorded another large turnout of participants.

Her Excellency as special guest

2007

Good Governance & Conflict Resolution

“Good Governance: An Instrument of Conflict Resolution”

14th November 2007Jalingo, Taraba State

The final edition before the hiatus featured an essay competition for junior and senior secondary school students in Jalingo with mouth-watering prizes, alongside the main festival programme.

Essay competition introduced

2024

YONAV Returns

“A New Chapter Begins”

2024 — PresentJalingo, Taraba State

After over a decade, YONAV is back — fully relaunched with renewed energy. The relaunch begins with an essay competition for senior secondary schools in Jalingo, followed by a two-day workshop on violence prevention and the Festival of Peace.

Full relaunch

From the Archive

Two Decades of Peace

These photographs capture the spirit of a movement that has touched thousands of lives across Taraba State. More photos from each edition will be added as we continue to digitise our archive.

Reach Us

Get In Touch

Address

27 Burba Road Magami

Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria

Phone

08036260310 08023821116

yonav2002@gmail.com

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