Kigali, Rwanda — As part of her growing influence in peacebuilding and gender advocacy, Ayo Amen Ediae was selected to participate in a specialized Training of Trainers session under the Generation Change Fellows Program, hosted by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). The high-impact training took place from August 30 to September 9, 2022, in Kigali, Rwanda, sgathering changemakers from Ethiopia committed to promoting peaceful leadership and social transformation.
Ediae, widely recognized for her work in advancing the rights and empowerment of girls and young women in Nigeria, joined an elite cohort of civic leaders in this immersive training. The Generation Change Fellows Program is designed to equip emerging peacebuilders with practical tools in conflict transformation, dialogue facilitation, and youth-led training delivery—key competencies that support long-term community resilience and inclusive governance.
Throughout the program, Ediae engaged in intensive modules focusing on effective leadership in divided societies, nonviolent communication, and trauma-informed mentoring—skills she has since integrated into her community-based initiatives through the Girls’ Power Initiative Alumnae Association.
The certificate of participation, jointly signed by David Yang, Vice President of the Center for Applied Conflict Transformation, and Alison Milofsky, Director of the Curriculum and Training Design Team, marks another milestone in Ediae’s journey as a regional leader in peace education and youth engagement.
Speaking after the event, Ediae noted: “Being part of the Kigali cohort deepened my understanding of how localized peacebuilding intersects with gender equity. I am more equipped than ever to train others, especially young girls, to lead courageously, resolve conflict peacefully, and create spaces where everyone can thrive.”
The United States Institute of Peace, a nonpartisan federal institution founded by Congress, partners with local leaders to prevent and resolve violent conflict. Its Generation Change Fellows Program reflects a strategic effort to build global networks of young leaders capable of shaping the future of their communities through empathy, dialogue, and collaborative action.
As peacebuilding becomes increasingly central to addressing youth marginalization, gender injustice, and social unrest in Nigeria and across Africa, leaders like Ediae represent the kind of grassroots strength and global perspective needed for durable solutions.
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