The Boko Haram insurgency in north-east Nigeria has created a situation of acute and enduring humanitarian need, with mass civilian kidnappings, an estimated 38,000 deaths, and over 3 million displaced by the conflict. This presents a critical leadership challenge, which in the past, has been answered unsuccessfully by state-sanctioned military responses.
In this highly original, multidisciplinary book, Fatima Akilu – who has been tasked with designing Nigeria's countering violent extremism (CVE) programme – argues for a radically different approach, one that treats violent extremism as a public health crisis and trauma as a peace and security issue.
Drawing on many years of expertise working in psychology, health and education, Akilu has reimagined what leadership looks like when it comes to countering violent extremism through centring trauma. The book explores how mental health discourse can be used as a vehicle to strive towards peace in CVE work. Ultimately, this reveals the essential connection between a relational leadership approach and countering violent extremism through centring trauma, both in Nigeria and beyond.

Fatima Akilu is the Executive Director of Neem Foundation, Nigeria, an internationally renowned crisis response organisation committed to promoting the protection and wellbeing of populations and communities living in contexts affected by conflict, violence, and fragility. She was appointed Honorary Professor at the African Leadership Centre, King's College London (KCL) in 2026, and is also a university educator and advocate for marginalised groups. She has worked in the areas of psychology and health for more than two decades.

Natasha Chilambo is a medical doctor, educator, and researcher at the African Leadership Centre, King's College London, UK, where she completed an MSc in Leadership and Development. Her work sits at the intersections of health, race, peace and security, employing transdisciplinary approached to examine power and advance structural equity in both discourse and praxis.