Dr. Colins Imoh

Biography

Dr Colins Imoh is passionate about social action, sustainable development, nonviolent movement, peace education, diversity, and peacebuilding. 

He is a practitioner and scholar. He taught peace studies at the University of Toledo, and California State University, Sacramento. He is Quality Matters certified online course designer,  instructor and peer reviewer. (https://www.qualitymatters.org/Home | Quality Matters)

Professionally, he obtained his doctoral degree from the University of Toledo, USA, exploring the application of the capability approach developed by Amartya Sen in conflict prevention. An MA in Conflict Transformation and Organizational Leadership from Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, USA and an MPhil in Environmental Management and Sustainability from the University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. He holds a graduate certificate in Advanced Study of Nonviolent Conflict from the Fletcher School, Tufts University, Boston, USA. 

He was the pioneer coordinator of the Africa Network of Young Peace Builders, a strong network of about 200 youth-based organizations and individuals involved in Peacebuilding, human rights and good governance working from the UNOY Peacebuilders Foundation International Secretariat in the Netherlands. 

He served as the Partners for Peace (P4P) Project Manager, a network whose mission is to build social capital around peacebuilding.  P4P is an initiative of Chevron Inc, USA. Prior to working as P4P Manager, he was the Director of the Centre for Social Transformation and Human Development (CHDST). He coordinated various peace & civic education programs in the communities, including the weekly live Radio programme on democracy, good governance, human rights, peace & development.  

He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Peace Education, In Factis Pax Journal of Peace Education and Social Justice, and the Frontiers in Political Science Journal -Peace and Democracy Section. 

He is an Advisory Board Member of the International Institute for Peace Education (IIPE), a member of the One Humanity Institute's board of experts, an International Steering Committee Member and Secretary of the African Peace Fellows Board of California State University, Sacramento, and a Member of the International Consultancy Panel of the Mediators Beyond Borders, among others. 

He has written articles and book chapters in his areas of interest.

Research

My research addresses a fundamental challenge: how to build lasting peace and functioning democracies in societies marked by deep diversity and inequality. I am driven by the conviction that sustainable peace requires more than the absence of violence; it demands institutions where justice is actively shaped by those it serves. This inquiry sits at the intersection of peacebuilding, democratisation, diversity, and inclusion, with a focused lens on the Global South.

My work is grounded in the principle that democracy is an active process of public reason and self-determination. Therefore, a core focus of my inquiry is to identify the civic and institutional strategies that allow people, particularly marginalised groups, including young people to transition from being passive recipients of peace to being active architects of a just society. This leads me to explore critical questions such as: How do diverse societies transition to and maintain democratic peace? What role does inclusion play in preventing conflict? And how can peacebuilding be designed to rectify historical injustices and empower communities?

These questions are informed by a commitment to rigorous, evidence-based analysis. My foundational research at the Centre for Inclusion and Diversity (CfID) provided a microcosm of these societal dynamics, where I investigated the tangible impacts of segregation and exclusion. By uncovering the causal links between school segregation, resource inequity, and disparate life outcomes—and by analysing the systemic under-reporting of hate crimes—I gained critical insights into how structural divides are formed and perpetuated. This work directly shapes my understanding of the barriers to inclusion that peacebuilding must address.

Building on this foundation, my research explores the complex interplay between local agency and global forces. I examine how international interventions and transnational challenges like climate change and digital connectivity shape local peace processes. This involves asking: How can international organisations effectively support, rather than undermine, local ownership? How can technology be harnessed to foster dialogue while mitigating risks of polarization? And how can education systems be redesigned to foster the empathy and critical thinking necessary for pluralistic societies?

Ultimately, my scholarship aims to bridge theory and practice. I strive to produce work that not only advances academic debate but also provides actionable insights for policymakers, NGOs, and community leaders. By illuminating the pathways through which inclusive democracy and sustainable peace reinforce one another, my research seeks to contribute to the foundational knowledge needed for a more just, equitable, and peaceful future.

Teaching

Modules

• Peacebuilding, Conflict and Security - PES5024-B
• Peace and Violence: Theories, Cases and Challenges - PES4022-B

Professional activities

Publications