As deadly clashes between farmers and herders continue to afflict many parts of Nigeria, Fulani leaders in Nasarawa State are calling on the Federal Government to revive and reopen abandoned nomadic schools as a pathway to peace and long-term conflict resolution.
The call was made on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Lafia, organised by the Fulbe Development and Cultural Organization (FUDECO). The gathering, themed “Consolidating the Outcomes of the IDRC-SPARC GES Research Findings on the Economic Empowerment of Pastoralist Women in Nasarawa State”, brought together Fulani community representatives from all 13 local government areas of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the Fulani leaders, FUDECO State Chairman, Muhammad Hussaini, said illiteracy among pastoralist communities remains a significant driver of the recurring violence between herders and farmers across the country.
“Most of the crises in pastoralist communities are rooted in ignorance,” Hussaini said. “We want the children of pastoralists to be educated and enlightened. This will enable them to understand the dangers of engaging in any form of crisis in society.”
Hussaini urged the government at all levels to take bold steps in reviving nomadic education, which was once a vital bridge between traditional pastoralist lifestyles and modern civic engagement. He emphasised that education could help prevent future violence by fostering better understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
“We are calling on the government at all levels to revive and re-open nomadic schools. We see this as a lasting solution to the clashes between herders and farmers,” he said.
For years, nomadic education centres, first introduced in the 1980s, aimed to provide mobile education to pastoralist children, many of whom migrate seasonally with their families and livestock. But decades of neglect, poor infrastructure, and underfunding have led many of these schools to shut down, leaving a gap in educational access for one of Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
In rural communities like those in Nasarawa State, where Fulani herders and local farming communities often share contested land, violent clashes have escalated, claiming lives, displacing families, and disrupting food production. Experts and activists have repeatedly called for long-term, structural interventions such as education, land reforms, and inclusive dialogue.
At Friday’s meeting, participants also reflected on findings from a recent research initiative focused on empowering pastoralist women, particularly through economic opportunities and education. Organisers argued that giving pastoralist families, especially women and children, a stake in peacebuilding efforts is essential to ending decades-long cycles of violence.
Hussaini stressed that the need for sustainable peace is urgent and that education should be at the centre of any meaningful solution.
“Peace cannot thrive in a society where a whole population is left behind,” he said. “We want our children to grow up not only as herders but as citizens who understand their rights, responsibilities, and the value of peaceful coexistence.”