For over 30 years, two remarkable leaders in northern Nigeria have been quietly transforming religious conflict into dialogue, trust and peace. Reverend Dr James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa were once adversaries in the violent Christian-Muslim clashes that shook northern Nigeria in the 1990s.
Today, they are allies and champions of peace in their work as co-founders of the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC) in Kaduna State in 1995. On 19 November 2025, the IMC will celebrate its 30th anniversary with an event in Nigeria, with many of its stakeholders present to celebrate the importance of peace and to highlight the work of Rev Wuye and Imam Ashafa.
Their relentless work earned them the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize, celebrating the power of grassroots leadership and faith-based reconciliation to drive peacebuilding. Since it was created, the IMC has worked in more than 50 communities across Nigeria, building amity and trust and has reached millions of people through their youth peace clubs and leadership training.
Acknowledging the need for continued investment in young peacebuilders, Rev Wuye noted:
“The future belongs to the youth, there should be constant inter-generational engagement and dialogue taking into consideration the past, present and future. Proper mentoring is imperative to have a peaceful world.”
Expanding on this sentiment, Imam Ashafa reflected on how the Commonwealth Peace Prize has boosted their work. He said:
“The award has added value to our work at the global and local levels with the establishment of Ashafa Peace Academy as a safe haven to mentor the next generation in cross-cultural and intergenerational dialogue. It has created opportunities to mentor youth across the Commonwealth nations to become global citizens who think globally and act locally with an inclusive worldview.”
Commonwealth Peace Prize recognition
The Commonwealth Peace Prize, awarded in March 2025 by the Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with the Khalili Foundation, honours individuals whose work exemplifies the Commonwealth Charter’s values of peace, tolerance, and mutual respect.
Addressing attendees at the IMC’s 30th anniversary celebration, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Prof Luis Franceschi, praised Imam Ashafa and Rev Wuye, stating:
“From the heart of Kaduna, in a time of conflict, you chose the path of reconciliation. From that choice, you built a movement, one that continues to heal divides, nurture understanding, and inspire generations across Africa and across the Commonwealth.
Your work exemplifies the best of what the Commonwealth stands for: democratic resilience, mutual respect, and the conviction that peace is the foundation of sustainable development.”
Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili, Chairman of the Khalili Foundation, paid tribute to the IMC and its visionary leaders:
“I share with the Reverend and the Imam, a vision of enduring peace as the foundation for strong communities and prosperous countries. Their work with the IMC has been nothing but outstanding and it is our privilege and honour to support them as they pass on their knowledge and their methods with the next generation of peacebuilders.”
The Khalili Foundation has also supported a monthly Peace Talks Series, brings together experienced peacebuilders, youth peace ambassadors, partners, and service organisations focused on community and international development. Rev Wuye and Imam Asafa shared their knowledge and insights with young people in the first webinar in the series.
A model for the Commonwealth and beyond
The IMC’s 30-year legacy stands as a powerful example of how grassroots peacebuilding advances the Commonwealth’s mission to promote peace, inclusion, and mutual understanding among diverse communities.
Central to its success is a strong focus on empowering youth and women as catalysts for peace and even engaging with militia groups. The centre also equips female leaders, religious scholars, and traditional authorities with the tools to serve as civic peace advocates, creating a ripple effect of reconciliation and cooperation that extends far beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Offering a deeply personal musing on the nature of peace, Imam Ashafa said:
“I have come learn that I can never be at peace and security, if my neighbour is not at peace and security. Indeed, there would be no peace in the world until there is peace in our nation, community and homes. And there would be no peace at home until there is peace within each one of us. We must continue to recite the mantra that ‘peace begins with me’ across the Commonwealth family.”
The Commonwealth Peace Prize will be awarded every three years to a distinguished peacebuilder with a strong track record of faith and values-based engagement in conflict resolution, promotion of social cohesion and sustainable peace.
