About Us

Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism Insurgency and Terrorism (BRAVE IT) is a strategic initiative that is determined to fill the unfortunate gap that exists between safety and the conscious lack of youth involvement in the fight against violent extremism insurgency and terrorism in the Northeast. In this very complex times in the northeast of Nigeria and because of the sad unpredictability of the safety of the inhabitants, BRAVE IT is focused on making young people in the Northeast take personal responsibility in the fight against violent extremism, insurgency and terrorism as a form of supporting the Military and other State actors towards the restoration of peace and stability in the land.

Since 2017, under the auspices of Kalthum Foundation for Peace (KFP), BRAVE & IT has been involved in programs like: Students Against Violent Extremism (SAVE 1) and Sisters Against Violent Extremism (SAVE 2). This time around, the ambition of BRAVE IT is to completely involve a full arsenal of young people who will work consciously to see to the end or at least, the drastic reduction in the problem of violent extremism, insurgency and terrorism in the Northeast.

Students Against Violent Extremism (SAVE 1) Network are a unique and powerful innovative cell unit set up inside the University of Maiduguri to further the work of KFP but this time around by students for students. Members of SAVE are empowered to work together to push back extremist narratives and prevent the recruitment of ‘at risk’ youths in and outside the university campus. It has been established that this is the first body to be set up in Nigeria for students to counter violent extremism. SAVE 1 was inaugurated by the then Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Lucky Irabor at the Forshams Multipurpose Event Centre Maiduguri, at a training Workshop organized by KFP for young people.

Sisters Against Violent Extremism (SAVE 2) on the other hand is a body of young women who have the common intention to advocate against violent extremism in the Northeast. This group was inaugurated by the Garrison Commander of the Theatre Command. SAVE 2 was created to rally women and advocate for peace through awareness on how women can identify the signs of violent extremism and tackle it. Members were co-opted into the Borno Girl Up club of the UN’s Women for Peace Foundation. This is because the use of military might alone cannot end terrorism. There must be calculated attempt by the community to use superior argument and logic to make proponents of violent extremism drop their ideologies. This is where SAVE2 comes into play.

At this point also, it is important to note that with the youths, Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism Insurgency and Terrorism (BRAVE  IT) is exploring new perspectives and creating solutions towards tackling violent extremism, insurgency, and terrorism in the Northeast.