ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, represented by David Habba, Humanitarian and Resilience Manager, delivered remarks at the 1st Graduation Ceremony of the Humanitarian, Development & Peace Nexus Practitioners' Academy held at the Americ

Distinguished Guests, Graduates,  Esteemed Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning and welcome to this epoch-making occasion. It is a great privilege to stand before you today at this significant milestone- The 1st Graduation Ceremony of the first cohort for the Humanitarian, Development & Peace Nexus Practitioners’ Academy, an initiative ActionAid Nigeria is proud to implement together with our University Partners, the American University of Nigeria, the University of Maiduguri and the Nasarawa State University.

The Humanitarian-Peace-Development (HDP) Nexus, also known as "the New Ways of Working," introduced after the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit, is continuously evolving due to a lack of understanding of its benefits and utilisation. The disjointed nature of humanitarian relief, development assistance, and peacekeeping/peacebuilding poses challenges for implementing the Nexus effectively. Our experience as an organisation when we began to engage around the nexus was 3 folds

1. Lack of Awareness: Many key stakeholders, including government officials, NGOs, and community leaders, remain largely unaware of the Humanitarian-Peace-Development (HDP) Nexus and its importance. This lack of awareness limits their ability to incorporate the Nexus into their planning and programming, which should be central to addressing complex crises. 
2. Operational Confusion: Even among those who have some understanding of the Nexus, there often exists significant confusion regarding its practical application. Actors like me struggle to translate theoretical knowledge into actionable strategies. This operational confusion can result in fragmented efforts, where humanitarian, development, and peace initiatives operate in silos rather than in a coordinated manner. 
3. Commitment Deficiency: We also observed noticeable lack of commitment from various actors to genuinely implement the Nexus framework. This deficiency was made worse by the absence of comprehensive policies or strategies that provide direction for both state and non-state entities. Without strong institutional support and a shared vision, efforts to operationalise the Nexus will falter. 

Recognising these gaps, ActionAid Nigeria has worked diligently with partners to address them. Today, we celebrate the launch of the HDP Practitioners Academy—an initiative designed to build capacity and foster commitment to the operationalization of the Nexus in Nigeria. We have also supported the development of HDPN framework for the country domiciled with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

Nigeria stands at a critical juncture where the HDP Nexus is urgently needed. For years, we have invested in addressing development challenges, humanitarian crises, and conflicts, but too often, we have only treated the symptoms. We must ask ourselves: Have we truly succeeded? Are we a better nation as a result of these investments? While we may have alleviated some issues, we must seek deeper, more sustainable solutions. This calls for a new way of working—better coordination and collaboration, where our true competition lies in the challenges we face together, not among ourselves.

Today, we celebrate the remarkable achievement of our inaugural cohort. Your commitment to completing this course and your dedication to building a more resilient, just, and peaceful society is commendable. It takes immense courage to embrace a new program filled with uncertainties, and your faith in the Academy speaks volumes. I do hope that the course has been rewarding for you, but also you have enjoyed yourselves together. You are very special, and the story of this academy cannot be written fully in the years to come without your names going into it. Congratulations and thank you.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our exceptional trainers—Vanessa Williams, Dr. Sirajo Yahaya, and Umar Abubakar. Your dedication in delivering this course has been invaluable, and we appreciate your commitment.

A special thanks to the leadership of the American University of Nigeria, particularly the President, for unwavering support from day one. AUN serves as the flagship campus for the Academy, and we are proud of this partnership. I also acknowledge Dr. Salisu, Dr. Damare, and all those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make today a reality.

As I conclude, I invite you all to join me in celebrating our exceptional graduating cohort for their achievements. Let us give them a round of applause!

Thank you.