Craft Revival Movements and Economic Empowerment in Post-Conflict Communities in North East Nigeria

Craft revival as a strategy for economic empowerment and social rehabilitation in post-conflict communities has attracted growing scholarly and policy attention, yet empirical evidence on its effectiveness in the specific context of Nigeria's North East zone remains limited. This study analyses craft revival initiatives in communities affected by insurgency in Adamawa and Gombe States, examining the economic, social, and cultural outcomes for participants. A mixed-methods design is employed, gathering primary data from 200 craft programme participants through structured questionnaires and from 20 programme facilitators and community leaders through in-depth interviews. The study assesses income generation outcomes, skill acquisition, social network rebuilding, psychosocial recovery, and the cultural significance of specific crafts revived. The theoretical framework draws on post-conflict livelihoods theory, the social capital literature, and the craft economics scholarship. The study examines whether craft revival programmes in these communities are integrating traditional craft knowledge that was disrupted by displacement with contemporary design and market orientation, or whether they are introducing generic craft activities disconnected from local heritage. The analysis evaluates the roles of the North East Development Commission, non-governmental organisations, and state governments in funding and sustaining craft programmes. Existing literature from comparable post-conflict African contexts highlights the importance of community-led design in craft revival, a variable this study tests empirically. Findings are intended for the North East Development Commission, policy makers, and arts-based development organisations. Keywords: craft revival, post-conflict, North East Nigeria, economic empowerment, community art