Efetobor Stephanie EFFEVOTTU, PhD, is an early-career researcher and practitioner with a doctorate in History (Development Studies) from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She holds a B.A and an M.A. in History from the University of Benin and the University of Ibadan, respectively. Her research engages with questions around religious peacebuilding, women and youth engagement in peacebuilding, migration, humanitarianism, the role of institutions, and the limits of conflict resolution and peacebuilding in conflict-affected societies. She has also contributed significantly to discourses in these areas through academic publications and community-based projects. Dr. Effevottu has received several awards for her research projects, including the SSRC’s Next Generation in Africa Fellowship award and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea’s Grand Prize (Essay Category) in the 2024 Global Youth Essay and Art Contest. She currently works as an Adjunct Lecturer at the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies at the University of Ibadan Distant Learning Centre (DLC).
APDD: Briefly describe the central argument of your doctoral dissertation. What is its main contribution to knowledge in your field?
In Nigeria, there is a noticeable absence of empirical studies examining the peace-related activities of the Catholic Church in post-civil war Nigeria. Existing studies on Catholic activities in Nigeria have focused mainly on the Church’s role in providing healthcare services and educational support, with little attention paid to its post-civil war peacebuilding efforts. My doctoral dissertation tries to fill that gap by examining the peacebuilding role of the Catholic Church in post-civil war Nigeria, with a view to analysing the politics, dynamics, impact, and challenges of Catholic peacebuilding interventions between 1970 and 2015.
I argue that religious institutions, such as the Roman Catholic Church, have a unique role in managing conflict and building peace. As spiritual leaders, they are considered trustworthy by the people, which provides them with a unique leverage that enables them to influence communities in ways that secular actors, like government institutions, may not be able to. Through institutions like the faith-based non-profit organization, Caritas Nigeria/Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), and lay organisations, the Church has been a vital enabler of peace in Nigeria and has contributed to peacebuilding in various ways, including human rights and social justice advocacy, local capacity building, grassroots mobilisation, networking and partnership, empowerment, dialogue, and direct interventions. The study contributes to the academic literature on religious peacebuilding, and specifically to the understanding of Catholic peace and development efforts in conflict and post-conflict societies. Such insights are relevant especially in a country like Nigeria, where, despite its secular nature, religion exerts considerable influence over public affairs.
How did the Next Gen fellowship program impact your doctoral journey?
The Next Generation Fellowship Program was very instrumental to the successful and timely completion of my doctoral thesis. The financial support provided by the fellowship enabled me to focus completely on my doctoral dissertation without having to worry about work or funding. It also facilitated my participation in several local and international academic conferences and workshops that offered important feedback on key aspects of my research, which helped in improving the quality of my doctoral thesis. The knowledge and insights gained from these engagements also enriched my understanding of institutional and Catholic peacebuilding efforts in conflict-prone societies like Nigeria. Beyond the financial benefits of the fellowship, the various workshops that we attended helped to sharpen my research methodology and arguments. Also, the intellectual community provided by the Next Gen program created a supportive environment that helped me stay motivated and engaged throughout my doctoral research journey. Whenever I was stuck or found it difficult to navigate some aspects of my research, I could always reach out to other Next Gen fellows to seek clarity and guidance, which was very helpful to the successful completion of my PhD program.
Now that you have completed your PhD, what are your plans for the future?
Since defending my PhD dissertation, my focus has been on translating academic research into actionable practice. I am currently working as an Adjunct Lecturer while simultaneously collaborating with peacebuilding NGOs and development partners to ensure my findings inform on-the-ground interventions. To maximise the impact of my doctoral research, I am currently converting selected chapters of my thesis into peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, several of which are currently under review and awaiting publication. Furthermore, I am leveraging unutilised empirical data from my doctoral fieldwork to develop new initiatives and drafts in line with my research interests.
Moving forward, my immediate goal is to secure a postdoctoral research fellowship or visiting scholar position to expand the scale and geographical scope of this research. Concurrently, I am pursuing roles where I can use the expertise gained during my PhD to advance peace, security, and development interventions in post-conflict settings. Overall, my ultimate goal is to secure a tenured faculty position within a university or a research institute where I can mentor the next generation of African peacebuilding scholars and practitioners.
What advice do you have for upcoming doctoral students?
I advise them to stay curious, disciplined, and open to collaboration. Remember that a doctoral journey is as much about perseverance as it is about passion, so resist the temptation to isolate yourself. Seek out mentors, engage with colleagues across disciplines, and ensure that your research speaks not only to the academic community but also to real-world challenges. Finally, always remember that a good dissertation is a done dissertation.
Published Works
Effevottu, E.S. (2025). From victims to actors: Analysing youth participation in Nigeria’s peace and security. In K. Leclerc, E.S.I.B. Yague, and H. Berents. Youth leading change: Emerging sites of knowledge in peace and conflict. Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. Available online at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/395120524_From_Victims_to_Actors_Analysing_Youth_Participation_in_Nigeria’s_Peace_and_Security
Effevottu, E.S. (2025). Is religion always violent? Understanding religious peacebuilding, with a focus on the Catholic Church. Kujenga Amani. Available online at: https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2025/03/20/is-religion-always-violent-understanding-religious-peacebuilding-with-a-focus-on-the-catholic-church/
Effevottu, E.S. (2024). Children without Childhood: Exploring the Impact of Armed Conflicts on Children in Northeast Nigeria. Published as part of the Proceedings of a national conference convened by SCaRPE-A Nigeria. Available online at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/403545843_Children_without_Childhood_Exploring_the_Impact_of_Armed_Conflicts_on_Children_in_Northeast_Nigeria
Effevottu, E.S. (2023). An analysis of violence in Udu Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, 2006-2023, Nigeria Watch Working Paper Series. Available online at: https://nigeriawatch.org/media/html/WP_Delta_State-Udu_LGA.pdf
