MU Student Aspires to Bring Peace Back to Nigeria
Brandon Burgess
Peace isn’t something that is simply given, it’s something that must be strived for.
Senior peace studies major Zakaria Bulus understands this. He came to Manchester University from his hometown Adamawa in Nigeria, with a hope to return to his home country with the skills needed to restore a little peace.
Bulus chose to attend Manchester because of its extensive academic history in peace studies. As the nation’s first program began at Manchester, he thought this would be the most fitting place for his education.
Peace has become an important part of Bulus’s life as the terrorist group Boko Haram, located in Nigeria, continues its reign of terror. It has been 17 years since the group first emerged and the country continues to suffer at its grip. In addition, the country faces multiple economic and political issues.
Growing up among all of these issues, Bulus became interested in the study of peace and its workings. He said he got into this area because he wanted to help resolve conflicts, to help restore peace in Nigeria, and to work with international organizations promoting peace.
A large part of his passion for peace comes from his affiliation with the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria. “I suppose you could say that religion shaped a part of me,” he said.
Tying in with his religion, back home Bulus is a part of the Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN), the largest national body of the Church of the Brethren in the world. This peace church was founded in 1923, and has focused on education, health, and agriculture. Today, however, the organization is ravaged by attacks from the Boko Haram. As Bulus was born into the church, this organization became a large part of his life and helped decide, as he said, not only his fate, but also helped pick his major.
All together Manchester offered a safe, quiet, and comfortable place for Bulus to study.