As a university committed to researching and dispensing not only the traditional knowledge that universities promote, the University of Jos of Jos is committed to understanding and influencing emerging areas of interest. In 2002, in response to the increasing unrest and violence in both the international community and more specifically in the middle belt of Nigeria, the University of Jos created the Centre for Conflict Management and Peace Studies. The immediate goal of this Centre was to try to better understand issues that create conflict and principles and strategies that promote peace and to prepare a cadre of professionals that could disseminate and implement this knowledge to the general public. To achieve these goals, the Centre has created three academic programmes. The first is the Post-Graduate Diploma, an entry level program for people with no academic background in conflict and peace studies; the second is the MSc which prepares students to be informed practitioners in the field and the third is the PhD which prepares practitioners to become academics in conflict and peace studies. Because conflict surfaces in and affects all areas of life, the Centre’s staff represent a wide range of academic backgrounds, including political science, sociology, law, gender studies, religious studies and other academic disciplines. For similar reasons, the Centre welcomes students from practically all undergraduate disciplines. No society can develop, no institution can succeed and no person can prosper without peace. Therefore, the Centre for Conflict Management and Peace Studies and its hundreds of alumni proudly represent one of the most important contributions to the development and stability of Nigeria that the University of Jos provides.

The Centre for Conflict Management and Peace Studies (CECOMPS) at the University of Jos is an academic directorate established in the 2002/2003 academic session by the University of Jos Senate. Recognized as a leading hub for conflict resolution and peace-building, CECOMPS has cultivated partnerships with prominent international organizations such as the British Council, USAID/OTI, and the University of Bradford (UK). The Centre's academic offerings include a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Peace and Conflict Studies, a Master's Degree (MSc) program, and a PhD program, all designed to nurture scholars proficient in addressing multifaceted dimensions of conflict transformation. Committed to both theoretical scholarship and practical application, CECOMPS conducts extensive research initiatives funded by various entities, including the Netherlands Embassy in Nigeria and the British government's Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP). With a focus on addressing violent conflicts within its immediate community of Plateau state, Nigeria, and broader global contexts, CECOMPS serves as a catalyst for fostering constructive engagements and sustainable peace-building strategies.