EP327 International Peer Mediation Competition Results with Chijioke Ibeku
Recently, a team of Nigerian high school students lead by lawyer and mediator Chijioke Ibeku, achieved first place in the 2025 International Peer Mediation Tournament. Chijioke joined me on the LMIPodcast to discuss this achievement.
What is Peer Mediation
Peer mediation is a specialized form of mediation primarily used in educational settings, such as schools and universities, to resolve conflicts among students. This topic has been discussed multiple times on the LMIPodcast. A simple search for “peer mediation” on the LMIPodcast YouTube Channel will reveal plenty of resources for this topic.
The 2025 Annual Peer Mediation Tournament
This competition, the 2025 International JAMS/NAPPP/OPMP 2nd Annual Tournament for middle and high schools, which is supported by JAMS and other organizations, provided a platform for student mediators from various educational levels to apply their conflict resolution skills in an online setting.
Victory & Impact
Chijioke, a lawyer, mediator, author, and trainer based in Abuja, Nigeria, shared his teams experience and how the first place victory impacted him. Chijioke is not a stranger to the podcast, having been a guest before to discuss his work, including his work on developing peer mediation in Africa. During our conversation, Chijioke shared how he initiated the peer mediation program in Africa in 2021 and highlighted the program’s progression despite resource limitations. He noted that the competition victory affirmed the consistent effort invested in teaching conflict resolution to young individuals.
Chijioke emphasized the significance of this achievement, particularly as his team comprised students from Nigerian public schools, which often have fewer resources than private institutions. The competition, conducted from February to May, involved four stages, each with distinct problem scenarios. Teams were required to submit unassisted video recordings of their mediation sessions. Chijioke’s team advanced through each round, ultimately prevailing over 14 other international teams.
Chijioke underscored the relevance of peer mediation, especially in regions facing conflicts rooted in religious, cultural, or tribal differences. He explained that educating children in cultural appreciation and peaceful dispute resolution is fundamental to fostering a more stable society. The objective of all this work is to equip the next generation with the tools to manage differences and minimize conflict, thereby ensuring a sustained cadre of conflict resolution practitioners.
Chijioke confirmed that his team intends to participate in the 2026 tournament, scheduled from February 1st to May 31st of next year. Those interested can learn about how to register for the 2026 3rd Annual JAMS/NAPPP/OPMP International Online Peer Mediation Tournament here. There is a small entry fee per team, but scholarship opportunities are available. For prospective participants, Chijioke recommends emphasizing confidence and demonstrating proficiency in their mediation approach, as these attributes are valued by the judging panel. For further engagement with Chijioke Ibeku, he can be reached via LinkedIn and Facebook and other contact at the links below:
CONTACT Chijioke
https://www.facebook.com/naijamediator
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chijioke-ibeku-631947192
WhatsApp: +234 807 361 8078 and +234 898 655 435
X (formerly Twitter):
OTHER LINKS DISCUSSED:
• http://peermediationonline.org/peer-mediation-online-tournament.html
• http://peermediationonline.org/index.html
