Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace Fellowship Program 2025/2026

Deadline: 16th May 2025

Are you passionate about peacebuilding and sustainable development in Africa? Do you aspire to be part of a dynamic community of changemakers working to foster dialogue, resolve conflicts, and promote social cohesion? If so, the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) invites you to apply for the 2025/2026 COFP Fellowship Program—an opportunity to gain essential skills, build meaningful networks, and make a lasting impact in your community.

Since its inception in 2018, the COFP Fellowship Program has empowered over 325 individuals from 16 African countries, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to engage in interfaith dialogue, conflict management, and peacebuilding. This program is uniquely designed by Africans, for Africans, ensuring that its approach remains relevant to the realities on the continent.

The COFP Fellowship is more than just a learning experience—it is a transformative journey that nurtures leaders and advocates committed to fostering peace across Africa.

Benefits

1. African Context: The program is tailored to address the specific peace and security challenges facing Africa, developed and led by experts from the region.
2. Structured Learning Experience: The fellowship is divided into three modules, allowing Fellows to meet quarterly for a week-long, in-person training in Abuja, Nigeria, for one year.
3. Hands-On Peacebuilding: Each Fellow will receive a small seed grant to implement a community-based peace project before graduation.
4. Professional Certification: Upon completing the program, Fellows will be awarded university certificates in Interreligious Dialogue, Conflict Transformation, and Mediation during the final module.
5. A Lifelong Network: Graduates automatically become part of the COFP Africa Network of Peacebuilders (CANEP) a growing community of professionals committed to advancing peace across the continent.

Program Costs & Application Process

The COFP Fellowship Program is completely FREE! However, selected Fellows will be responsible for their transportation to Abuja, Nigeria, for the three in-person training sessions.

For more information and application.