The Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) marked a significant milestone in its mission to strengthen Africa’s growing community of peacebuilders with the graduation of the 8th Fellowship cohort and the induction of the graduates into the COFP Africa Network of Peacebuilders (CANEP). Hosted at the Ajuji Greenwich Hotel, Abuja, the event reflected the Fellowship’s expanding continental influence, evidenced by the 3,331 applications received for the 2026/2027 Fellowship cycle. Following the successful completion of the 2025/2026 Fellowship’s third and final module, 35 Fellows graduated on 9 May 2026 after an intensive year-long program focused on leadership development, interfaith dialogue, conflict transformation, and practical peacebuilding.

Beyond the conferment of certificates and the presentation of peace awards, the ceremony celebrated excellence in community-driven peacebuilding through the presentation of the prestigious 2026 Rex Peace Award to Saleh Jibrin Sarki and Bibi Baba Henah. The award recognised their outstanding Community Peace Projects, which exemplified the core values of the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace through innovation, exemplary leadership, measurable impact, and sustainable grassroots engagement. Their achievements not only demonstrated the transformative potential of locally driven peace initiatives but also reinforced the Foundation’s commitment to nurturing leaders whose work continues to inspire resilience, dialogue, reconciliation and lasting peace both within their communities and beyond.

Throughout the three-day convening from 10th-12th June 2026, participants explored practical ways to strengthen collaboration through dialogue, mutual learning and the practice of synodality. Discussions also focused on embedding safeguarding within program structures and support systems to ensure the protection of children, youth and vulnerable adults, while identifying new opportunities for collaboration and sustainable community impact at the local, national and global levels.