The Nigerian history is dotted with stories of violence, and many share the notion that the Nigerian people are resilient to have continued to remain in one country despite the violence menace that has been threatening the corporate existence of the country and her people. Going by the annals of records, different nature of violence ranging from ethno-religious conflicts to indigenes-settlers conflicts, Niger Delta resource-based conflict to Boko Haram violence menace, and communal mayhem over land dispute to farmers/cattle-rearers conflicts, as well as gender, school-based violence and electoral cum political violence among others, have at various extent affected the progress and peaceful co-existence of the good people of Nigeria. Worst of all the violence in recent time, is the Boko Haram suicide bombing campaign in the north-eastern part of the country. In her attempt to present a clear picture of things in this regards, this paper sets to examine the nature and extent of violence in Nigeria.

Violence is a worrisome phenomenon in every social setting including schools where it particularly has a negative impact on learning processes, as it largely affects victims' mental, psychological and physical dispositions. It is often more rewarding to tackle violence from its root and work to entrench a lasting culture of peace. Dealing with violent menace however requires a cutting-edge approach which infrastructure for peace represents. This is important in view of the failure of the existing approaches in dealing with violence and promoting attitudinal cum social change in school. This paper therefore focuses on building infrastructures for peace such as peace clubs, and using such standing peace structure to deal with violence, promote positive attitudinal cum social change in schools. The experiences of the schools for the research include the cultivation of a culture of peace, positive attitudinal change among students, development of conflict resolution skills by students and social change for peace.

Intra-state violent conflicts have been on the rise in many states in recent years. Climate change has been negatively affecting available resources in many communities, and this contributes to the spate of unhealthy competitions and violent conflicts in many communities. This is further compounded by the increasing waves of terrorism. Nigeria is not spared of this experience. From North to South, East to West, violent conflicts have negatively impacted on public service delivery and business activities in the world largest community of blacks creating a drawback in the development stride in local communities and society at large. There have been attempts by successive governments to address the violent conflicts, but much of which have been through the use of government security agents, and since violence begets violence, the approach has not IJAH, VOL. 6(1), S/N 20, JANUARY, 2017 189 Copyright © IAARR, 2006-2017 really resulted in positive peace required to create the right business clime for the people. Following this, civil society organisations stepped in with a view to filling the gap occasioned by government's failure to effectively manage the situations. The various civil society organisations explored tools, from traditional religion, Christian religion and modern conflict resolution mechanism to intervene in the conflicts. This paper examined the roles of these organisations in conflict intervention in Nigeria.

The study investigated experiences of infrastructures for peace mainly in Kenya and Ghana. It also explored experiences in other parts of Africa, and proceeded to argue a case for their creation in other climes in Africa. Standing peace structures have potentials to help promote peaceful business clime and other conditions necessary for human and societal development. Over the years, unhealthy competitions for limited resources in man's environment and election triggered violence among others have been consistently increasing threats to peace and security as well as various business-AFRREV VOL. 11 (2), S/NO 46, APRIL, 2017 26Copyright © International Association of African Researchers and Reviewers, 2006-2017: www.afrrevjo.net. Indexed African Journals Online: www.ajol.info related economic activities in many communities in Africa. There are attempts by Government at various levels to curtail the alarming rate of threats to through governments' security apparatus, yet threats to peace remains. This informed the need to explore alternative approach. As a cutting-edge approach for violent prevention, conflict intervention and transformation, infrastructure for peace has been found rewarding in addressing conflicts and violent menace. This paper focused on two main examples of infrastructure for peace, which are cabinet-level Ministry of Peace and National or Local Peace Committee/Council. The study adopted a descriptive style and proceeds to propose what the role of a ministry of peace might be in Nigeria.

Nigeria has witnessed a plethora of conflicts and violence especially since her post independent era. Direct and structural violence as well as cultural violence have largely dotted her history. The various nature of violence that have over the years keeps the country teetering at the verge of precipice include, resource-based conflict in the Niger Delta, indigenes-settlers conflicts, gender-based conflicts, ethno-religious conflicts, electoral cum political conflicts and the recent Boko Haram violent menace that has claimed at least 13,000 lives in Nigeria. There have been attempts by government and civil society organisations to curb violence in the country. However, their limited apparent success and the extent of violence underlines the need for alternative approaches to build peace in Nigeria. Building infrastructures for peace is one such alternative. Using an action research approach, the research focusses on establishing peace clubs in four high schools and implementing a programme for a 12 month period.