The Plateau Peace Architecture Forum has called for sustained investment in peacebuilding, stressing the need for peaceful coexistence education and awareness campaign to reach every community, village, town and internally displaced persons camp across Plateau State.
The call was made on Monday, September 21, 2026, during the Plateau Peace Architecture Forum organised to commemorate the International Day of Peace at Odilins Event Centre, Jos.
The programme, organised by the Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PSPBA) in collaboration with the Plateau Peace Practitioners Network (PPPN), with support from GIZ, PeaceCore, was held under the theme, “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everyday, Everywhere.”
Speaking at the forum, the Director-General of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, Dr. Mrs. Julie Sanda, said peace should not be understood merely as the absence of conflict, noting that the absence of justice can equally undermine peaceful coexistence.
Sanda stressed the importance of inclusivity and cooperation among government, communities, security agencies, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious leaders, women and youths in building sustainable peace.
She urged citizens to make peace a daily responsibility rather than something observed only during international or national commemorative events. According to her, genuine care for one another, regardless of tribe or religion, and deliberate actions towards peaceful coexistence are necessary for lasting peace.
The PSPBA Director-General also called on the media to avoid stereotyping and negative framing of conflicts, stressing that responsible reporting can contribute to peace rather than deepen divisions.
She further urged youths not to allow themselves to be used as agents of conflict and encouraged women groups and other stakeholders to remain actively involved in peacebuilding efforts across Plateau State.
Delivering the keynote presentation, Mrs. Helen Haggai, Conflict Transformer, Peace Builder and Special Adviser to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on NGO Matters, reflected on Plateau States history of conflict, noting that although the state is known as the “Home of Peace and Tourism,” it has experienced recurring conflicts since the Jos crisis of 2001.
She said peace goes beyond the absence of conflict, stressing that justice, dialogue, reconciliation and behavioural change are equally important to achieving sustainable peace.
According to Haggai, government, civil society organisations and other institutions have continued to invest in dialogue and peace education over the years, with efforts aimed at changing mindsets and strengthening peaceful coexistence.
She highlighted some interventions of the Caleb Mutfwang administration, including the establishment of a Peace Centre, provision of surveillance drones to vulnerable communities, an emergency toll-free line for reporting, as well as peace education initiatives such as the annual Peace Youth Camp.
Haggai stressed the importance of empowering women in the healing and reconciliation process, while calling for the inclusion of political actors, youths, women, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other groups in the peace architecture.
She urged citizens to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation instead of hatred and conflict, while calling on leaders to serve the best interests of the people and religious leaders to preach love, unity and peaceful coexistence.
The keynote speaker further urged government and other peace actors to sustain peace education as a means of promoting behavioural change, stressing that investment in peace must be reflected in the daily actions of individuals and institutions.
She called for peacebuilding efforts to extend from the state capital to villages, towns and IDP camps, urging stakeholders not to relent until peace reaches communities across the state.
The forum also featured the unveiling of the third edition of the PPPN Journal by Dr. Prince Charles Dickson. The publication contains 13 papers on peace narratives and is designed to document peace efforts while encouraging younger generations to embrace peaceful coexistence.
A panel session reflecting on 25 years since the September 7, 2001 Jos crisis also featured Judith Ramson, Dr. Gad Shamaki, Miss Longdi Alexander, Ambassador Umar Yusuf, Mrs. Patricia Pam and Alhaji Suraj Sa’eed, who shared experiences, challenges and perspectives on the journey towards peace in Plateau.
Participants also witnessed a preview and demonstration of the Plateau Watch EWER App, an initiative of the PPPN designed to facilitate real-time reporting and monitoring of peace-related developments and efforts across the state.
The event further featured the unveiling of a peace advocacy jingle by Nyango Davou, aimed at promoting messages of peace and peaceful coexistence.
Speaking on behalf of GIZ, Dr. Geraldine Aku, Technical Advisor, Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation, commended the resilience of organisations and individuals involved in peace advocacy and education in Plateau State.
She urged participants to take the message of peace back to their communities and continue the work of promoting dialogue, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The President of the Plateau Peace Practitioners Network, Nanmak Bali appreciated donors and partners for their support and the Plateau State Peace Building Agency for its collaboration, while calling on participants to remain committed to peacebuilding.
The State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mrs. Kaneng Tabitha Pam Hworo, urged youths to reject political thuggery during campaigns and elections, encouraging citizens to participate peacefully and vote for candidates of their choice.
The event was attended by the representative of the Plateau State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Yilji David Nenfwang, Esq. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions; Global President of University of Jos Alumni, Dr. Gad Shamaki; representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, NDLEA, Operation Rainbow, civil society organisations, PPPN, Plateau Youth Council, youth and women groups, religious leaders and other peace actors.
