In tandem with its mandate of engaging stakeholders’ to entrench the ideals of sustainable Peace and Peaceful co-existence amongst the diverse ethno-religious groups in the State, The Plateau State Peace Building Agency organized a 2Day capacity building training for Leaders of Aten, Attakar, Fulani, and Irigwe Communities in Jos the Plateau state capital.
The 2Day training held on 7th and 8th July 2021at Dimples Hall in Jos is supported by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and in collaboration with the Kaduna State Peace Commission given that the communities are bordering between Plateau and Kaduna State.
Director-General of PPBA, Mr Joseph Langmang, who was represented by the Director of Administration Plateau State Peace Building Agency, Mr Timothy Gayi in his opening remark at the workshop said the Agency is living up to its responsibility in strengthening the capacity of communities to be able to handle their own mediation and dialogue and on how they can resolve their conflicts by themselves. Also building on the capacity of community leaders to serve as first respondents in terms of conflict.
Mr Gaya said the training will center on tolerance, trust and confidence-building.
The lead facilitator for the workshop and the Director of Programs Plateau State Peace Building Agency, Mr. Godwin Okoko said the objectives were centered on building the capacity of community leaders with the mechanisms and strategies on how they can be able to address and mitigate against conflict, tension and triggers in their communities.
He said the communities were from Riyom and Bassa Local Government Areas as they have experienced conflicts for over 2 decades also comprising leadership from Kaura Local Government Area from Kaduna State.
Mr Okoko said the capacity building was drawn from the continuous dialogue started by the Agency some 24 months ago with a “Commitment to Peace Agreement” signed in some instances.
Some of the community leaders, including Dr Markus Avong, the president of Attakar Community development, Mrs. Paulina Bala, Aten Women Leader, Mr Reuben Zongo, Secretary to Irigwe Traditional Council and Maryam Adamu, Women Ardo Kaura LGA, who spoke to Journalists at the workshop expressed delight in the efforts thus far and pledged to step down resolutions and processes learned at the workshop to their various communities when they get back.
The Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA) is an institutional framework established by law in response to the challenges of peace and security in the state. Their mandate is to promote the culture of peace and harmonious coexistence, among the various ethnoreligious divides on the Plateau.
