By SN24.com 
By Peter Akpah.
Peace stakeholders in Plateau State have called for sustained investment in peacebuilding, with emphasis on taking *peace education and awareness to every community, village, town and IDP camp* across the 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 the 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 and PeaceCore*, was held under the theme: *“Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everyday, Everywhere.”*
It brought together government representatives, security agencies, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, women and youth groups, peace practitioners and other stakeholders committed to building a peaceful Plateau.
*”Peace Is Not Just Absence of Conflict” – Dr. Julie Sanda*
Speaking at the forum, the *Director-General of PSPBA, Dr. Mrs. Julie Sanda*, reminded participants that peace should not be measured merely by the absence of conflict, noting that where justice is lacking, peaceful coexistence is threatened.
She called for stronger cooperation among government, communities, security agencies, CSOs, traditional institutions, religious leaders, women and youths, stressing that sustainable peace can only be achieved when everyone plays a role.
Sanda urged citizens to make peace part of their everyday lives rather than treating it as something to be remembered only during commemorative events. She stressed the need for people to genuinely care for one another regardless of tribe or religion, and to make choices that promote understanding.
She also appealed to the media to be responsible in conflict reporting, warning against stereotyping and negative framing that could deepen divisions, and urged youths not to allow themselves to be used as agents of violence.
*”Peace That Excludes Everyone Will Not Last” – Helen Haggai*
Delivering the keynote presentation, *Mrs. Helen Haggai, Conflict Transformer, Peace Builder and Special Adviser to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on NGO Matters*, reflected on Plateau’s history of conflict and the long journey towards peace.
She noted that although Plateau is known as the *“Home of Peace and Tourism,”* the state has experienced recurring conflicts since the *2001 Jos crisis*. According to her, _“Peace is not merely the absence of conflict but also involves justice, dialogue, reconciliation and a deliberate change in behaviour.”_
Haggai highlighted interventions of the Mutfwang administration, including the establishment of a *Peace Centre, provision of surveillance drones to vulnerable communities, an emergency toll-free line for reporting incidents, and peace education initiatives such as the annual Peace Youth Camp.*
_“The time has come to examine what we are passing on to the next generation. Peace that we celebrate only on the 21st of September will not survive the next dry season or political contest. And let me say this clearly: Peace that excludes everyone will not last,”_ she said.
She explained that investing in peace means investing in capacity, particularly for women and youths who are most affected by conflict.
_“I prefer to describe women not simply as victims, but as survivors. When husbands and brothers are killed, women are left to carry families. They need resilience and support. Young people are often targeted for recruitment into violence. But when reached through peace education, dialogue and leadership development, they acquire skills to prevent conflict from escalating,”_ Haggai stated.
She cited that over *3,100 young people from 17 LGAs* participated in this year’s *General Peace Youth Camp*, which featured conflict transformation, human rights education and intercultural dialogue.
Haggai stressed that peace must be inclusive: _“Everyone—whether rich or poor, living with a disability or without one, male or female, Christian or Muslim, indigenous or settler—must have a place in the pursuit of peace.”_
She further emphasized grassroots intelligence: _“Peace must extend from the state capital to the grassroots; from Jos city to the farthest village; from city streets to the most remote farms; from the palace to the IDP camp. The woman selling akara, the man selling suya and the farmer may know what is happening in their community long before information reaches the city.”_
_“Peacebuilding is not an event. It is not a destination we reach, but a continuous practice. It is something we must live with, like the air we breathe,”_ she added.
*Journal Unveiled, EWER App Previewed*
One of the highlights of the forum was the unveiling of the *third edition of the Plateau Peace Practitioners Network Journal* by *Dr. Prince Charles Dickson*. The publication contains *13 papers on peace narratives* and is designed to document peace efforts and encourage younger generations.
A panel session reflecting on *25 years since the September 7, 2001 Jos crisis* featured *Judith Ramson, Dr. Gad Shamaki, Miss Longdi Alexander, Ambassador Umar Yusuf, Mrs. Patricia Pam and Alhaji Suraj Sa’eed*, who shared experiences and perspectives on Plateau’s peace journey.
Participants also witnessed a preview and demonstration of the *Plateau Watch EWER App*, an initiative of the PPPN for real-time reporting and monitoring of peace-related developments, and the unveiling of a *peace advocacy jingle by Nyango Davou.*
*Partners Call for Action Beyond Conference Hall*
Speaking on behalf of GIZ, *Dr. Geraldine Aku, Technical Advisor, Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation*, commended the resilience of peace actors in Plateau and urged participants to take the message of peace into their communities.
*President of PPPN, Nanmak Bali*, appreciated donors and PSPBA for collaboration and urged sustained commitment to peaceful coexistence.
*State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mrs. Kaneng Tabitha Pam Hworo*, called on youths to reject political thuggery during campaigns and elections and to participate peacefully in the democratic process.
The event was attended by the representative of the 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 and Operation Rainbow*, civil society organisations, members of the PPPN and Plateau Youth Council, youth and women groups, religious leaders and other peace actors.
The forum ended with a shared understanding that peace cannot be achieved by government or peace practitioners alone, but requires the daily commitment of individuals, communities and institutions to *invest in peace for everyone, everywhere, every day.
