A women-led cross-border peace dialogue and mediation process between communities in Northern Plateau and Southern Kaduna Local Government Areas (LGAs) was formally launched on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in Jos, Plateau State.

The initiative, convened by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) with support from GIZ and the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency (PSPBA), brought together government officials, security agencies, traditional and faith-based leaders, women leaders, and representatives of border LGAs from Riyom and Bassa in Plateau State, as well as Jama’a and Kaura LGAs in Kaduna State.

Chairing the launch, former Minister of Water Resources, Hon. Sarah Ochekpe, described the initiative as both symbolic and strategic, noting that it represents a deliberate choice to prioritise dialogue over division in communities long affected by violent conflict.

She commended HD for its sustained peacebuilding engagements across Plateau State and the wider Middle Belt, particularly for placing women at the centre of the peace process. According to her, the persistent exclusion of women from negotiations has weakened many peace efforts, despite women bearing the greatest burden during conflicts.

“Many children have been born into communities that have never known peace,” Ochekpe said, stressing that sustainable peace requires intentional and inclusive action. She called for continuous training, economic empowerment, and social support for women mediators to enable them sustain their peacebuilding roles.

The Country Manager of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Dr. Chris Agoha, said the dialogue process is informed by years of conflict analysis in Plateau and Kaduna States, where violent clashes driven by ethnic, religious, political, and economic factors have persisted for more than two decades.

He noted that while several peace initiatives and ceasefire agreements have been implemented in the past, many failed due to weak follow-through and unresolved root causes. Dr. Agoha added that research consistently shows peace agreements are more durable when women are actively involved.

“Women have unique access to communities and play critical roles in reconciliation, early warning, and grassroots mobilisation,” he said, describing the women-led mediation model as a viable pathway to addressing cross-border conflicts.

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Director General of the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency, Dr. Julie G. Sanda, Celestina Avizavi Christopher described the initiative as a significant step toward transforming shared borders into bridges of cooperation.

She noted that although border communities share markets, farmlands, cultural ties, and family relationships, they have also experienced cycles of mistrust and violence. According to her, centring women in peacebuilding is not symbolic but a strategic activation of one of the strongest peace assets within communities.

Christopher outlined the objectives of the initiative to include the establishment of a structured and sustained dialogue process, improved coordination among institutions and stakeholders, and alignment with the Women, Peace and Security agenda of the PSPBA.

Chairman of Bassa Local Government Area, Hon. Dr. Joshua Sunday Riti, speaking on behalf of participating council chairmen, welcomed the initiative, describing women as critical agents of peace and positive social change.

Also speaking, HRH Jonathan Mamman from Kaura Local Government Area thanked HD for its intervention, particularly in equipping women with peacebuilding skills. He described the collaboration among the four LGAs as timely and essential in view of past cross-border tensions, expressing optimism that outcomes from the dialogue would cascade to grassroots communities.

The launch marks the beginning of a sustained women-led dialogue and mediation process aimed at addressing the root causes of cross-border conflicts and fostering peaceful coexistence between communities in Northern Plateau and Southern Kaduna.