The Plateau MultiDoor Courthouse (PMDC) and the Tattaaunawa Roundtable Initiative (TRICentre), with support from the Government of Sweden through the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), have concluded a two-day capacity-building workshop on Collaborative and Alternative Dispute Resolution (CDR/ADR).
The training, held under the project “Improving Access to Women’s Housing, Land and Property (HLP) Rights through Legislative Actions and Strengthening Institutional Capacity in Plateau State,” targeted key government stakeholders from the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Ministry of Women Affairs, and the Plateau Peacebuilding Agency.
Day One focused on the foundations of ADR, cultural considerations, and system design. Chairperson of PMDC, Hon. Justice Nafisah Lawal, delivered the keynote, stressing ADR’s role in easing court congestion, preserving relationships, and fostering community stability. Sessions covered negotiation, arbitration, conflict analysis in traditional and formal systems, restorative justice, and integrating gender equity into mediation practices.
Day Two featured intensive practical sessions led by Dr. Prince Charles Dickson, Lead Facilitator and peace practitioner, alongside other experts. Participants engaged in mediation and negotiation techniques, arbitration opportunities in the public sector, the mediator’s code of conduct, and personality-based communication in dispute resolution. Role plays, case studies, and small claims court simulations allowed participants to apply their skills in realistic scenarios.
The workshop doubled as a platform for inter-agency dialogue, with ministries and commissions sharing experiences and strategies for addressing disputes—particularly around housing, land, and property rights, which often fuel community tensions.
Closing the event, Justice Lawal described ADR as “a transformative tool for building trust, mending broken relationships, and fostering a culture of dialogue rather than confrontation.” NRC’s ICLA Project Officer, Jil Freeson, urged participants to embed ADR principles in their agencies to resolve disputes swiftly and prevent escalation.
Certificates were presented at the close, symbolising the emergence of a culturally responsive, government-led justice network. Participants left committed to championing dialogue and collaboration in their respective sectors, strengthening peace and inclusion across Plateau State.
