Abstract
This research investigates the extent, nature, and effectiveness of existing programmes and initiatives aimed at countering radicalisation and violent extremism (VE) within schools and religious institutions in North-East Nigeria. Drawing on the socio-political backdrop of the region marked by the persistent threat of Boko Haram and a federal government shift toward non-kinetic counter-extremism strategies the study interrogates the assumption that the absence of coherent, state-led deradicalisation frameworks signifies a wider governance failure. The research examines how religious and educational institutions, alongside state and non-state actors, respond to the ideological and structural drivers of radicalisation. Employing an interpretive, qualitative design, the study engaged 25 stakeholders through semi-structured interviews, including religious leaders, educationists, civil society actors, and policymakers. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and contradictions in programme design, implementation, and perceived impact across institution.The findings reveal a fragmented landscape of CVE interventions, with no unified national or regional policy framework specifically targeting radicalisation within schools and religious institutions. Instead, ad hoc efforts by state governments, NGOs, and religious bodies fill the vacuum through informal guidelines, civic education, and interfaith dialogues often without rigorous monitoring or strategic coordination. Critically, most existing programmes lack evaluative mechanisms and tend to avoid directly addressing religious stigmatisation or ideological indoctrination. The study identifies key drivers of VE, including poor governance, marginalisation, youth unemployment, and religious misinterpretation, and recommends that counter-extremism strategies be embedded into formal education and religious curricula. Furthermore, stakeholders emphasised the need for community-based safeguarding measures, improved teacher and religious leader training, and inclusive policies that build trust among diverse actors. This thesis advances a context-specific, evidence-informed model for countering radicalisation through collective action and sustained institutional engagement highlighting that without coherent policy direction and local ownership, the promise of deradicalisation remains largely rhetorical.
| Date of Award | 2 Jul 2025 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Busra Nisa Sarac (Supervisor), Iain Reid (Supervisor) & Moufida Sadok (Supervisor) |