Alliance Integrated Education spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said a joint nomination of the Integrated Education Fund and Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education for the Nobel Peace Prize is well-deserved recognition of both organisations.

The nomination of the IEF and NICIE for the prestigious award was made by a number of MPs, TDs and MEPs, along with academics in America and Canada. The winner will be revealed in October.

“This is fantastic news. Nobel Peace Prize winners from Northern Ireland are few and far between, with the last being David Trimble and John Hume, so I hope the IEF and NICIE join that prestigious list,” said Ms Armstrong.

“The nomination is not only well-deserved recognition of the work the organisations have carried out as peace-builders for many years but in addition, it is acknowledgement of the vital role integrated education has played in bringing our often fractured society together.

“Alliance has been the only party to persistently and consistently put the case for integrated education forward in the ongoing talks process. Integrated education remains core to Alliance’s position of an inclusive Northern Ireland, and we need to make sure it is future-proofed for generations to come.”