Adult Education and Conflict Resolution Knowledge Among Community Leaders in Borno State

This study examines the relationship between adult education participation and conflict resolution knowledge among community leaders in Borno State, North East Nigeria. Borno State has experienced prolonged insurgency-related conflict, and rebuilding community-level conflict management capacity is essential for sustainable peace. Adult education programmes that incorporate peacebuilding and conflict resolution content have been introduced in several local government areas by NGOs and state agencies, but their impact on community leader knowledge and practice is not well documented. This study uses a survey design, collecting data from 130 community leaders, including ward heads, traditional leaders, and women's group chairpersons, in Maiduguri, Konduga, and Gwoza local government areas. Conflict resolution knowledge is assessed using a validated instrument covering negotiation, mediation, and community dialogue skills. Regression analysis is applied to test the relationship between adult education exposure and conflict resolution knowledge. Findings reveal that community leaders who participated in structured adult education programmes with peacebuilding components score significantly higher on conflict resolution knowledge tests. Practical simulation exercises are identified as the most effective instructional method for knowledge transfer. Leaders in Gwoza, with the most recent conflict exposure, show the lowest baseline knowledge scores but the highest learning gains from programme participation. The study concludes that adult education with conflict resolution content builds important community leadership capacity in post-conflict Borno State. It recommends scaling up peace education integration in all adult education programming in the North East zone.

Keywords: adult education, conflict resolution, community leaders, Borno State, peacebuilding.