The Dialogue Reconciliation and Peace Centre (DREP Centre), with support from the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), organized a two-day Inter-Community Cultural and Interfaith Peace Exchange Forum aimed at strengthening social cohesion and resilience among conflict-affected communities.
The forum, held March 11–12, 2026 at Franzy Hotel, brought together traditional and religious leaders, community peace actors, skill acquisition beneficiaries, and youth representatives from Mararaban Dere, Yelwa-Zanga, Hual-Zanga, Dung, Duse Kura, and Meferi Moto communities across Jos North and Jos South Local Government Areas.
The event was part of the project titled “Strengthening Social Cohesion and Resilience of Conflict-Affected Communities in Plateau State.”
Speaking during the forum, the Project Officer of DREP Centre, Babuga Daniel, explained that the initiative focuses on fostering peaceful coexistence among communities that have historically experienced ethnic and religious tensions.
According to him, the project seeks to promote understanding among people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds while encouraging communities to take ownership of peacebuilding efforts.
Daniel noted that through the intervention, communities have begun to accept one another and show a renewed commitment to peace.
He explained that the project involved several peacebuilding activities, including dialogue sessions, town hall meetings, community-driven initiatives, and training on Early Warning and Early Response systems.
He said community members were also trained on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to enable them resolve disputes peacefully without resorting to violence or lengthy legal processes.
Daniel further highlighted that engaging youths and women through skill acquisition programmes was also part of the strategy to prevent them from becoming tools for conflict.
He explained that keeping young people economically engaged reduces idleness and discourages them from participating in violence.
Community Dialogue Outcomes
During practical group sessions at the forum, participants shared their experiences, successes, and challenges encountered while promoting peace in their communities.
Participants acknowledged that DREP’s peacebuilding interventions had strengthened dialogue and reconciliation mechanisms, improved stakeholder engagement through town hall meetings, and encouraged the inclusion of both men and women in decision-making processes.
Community members also reported improved cooperation among different ethnic and religious groups, reduction of stereotypes, and participation in joint activities such as community labour for road repairs and football matches organized to engage youths in peace initiatives.
Participants further noted that crimes such as stealing and false alarm incidents that previously caused confusion within communities have significantly reduced due to improved information sharing and cooperation.
However, challenges remain, including misinformation, lack of cooperation from some community members, and lingering ethnic and religious biases.
Other challenges identified include limited resources to sustain peace initiatives, misunderstandings about the intentions of peacebuilding activities, and the absence of dialogue platforms before the intervention of the DREP Centre.
Experiences of Peace Vanguards
Members of the Peace Vanguard, who serve as community-based peace ambassadors trained by DREP, shared their experiences in promoting peace across communities.
They revealed that some of the major challenges previously faced included farmer-herder clashes, fear of interacting with neighbouring communities, ethnic segregation in markets and schools, and widespread hate speech and propaganda.
Miscommunication and the unwillingness of some parties to listen to opposing views were also identified as obstacles to peace.
Despite these challenges, the Peace Vanguard reported notable successes since the project began.
They disclosed that traditional leaders have supported their peace efforts, while initiatives such as tree planting, inter-community cultural days, and regular interactions among communities have strengthened relationships.
They also noted that women and youths now have more opportunities to participate in leadership and decision-making processes.
According to them, communities that previously avoided interaction now share markets, schools, and communication channels.
The group further stated that DREP provided maternity beds to support maternal health in the communities and supported petty traders with startup capital.
They also reported that some community members affected by conflict received work tools, while several youths benefited from skill acquisition training.
Members of the Peace Vanguard said their consistent engagement initially faced resistance, with some community members accusing them of being influenced or “brainwashed,” but gradual progress has changed perceptions.
They added that today, they are recognized as peace ambassadors not only in their communities but also in neighbouring communities, with others inviting them to share their experiences.
Role of Traditional and Religious Leaders
Traditional and religious leaders participating in the forum highlighted several positive developments in their communities as a result of peacebuilding efforts.
They noted that there is now better understanding among community members despite differences in religion and ethnicity.
According to them, communities have begun visiting one another during festive celebrations such as Christmas and Sallah, while intermarriages have also strengthened relationships among families.
The leaders also reported a reduction in farmer-herder conflicts and emphasized the importance of joint prayers and spiritual support in maintaining peace.
They stressed that dialogue remains their primary strategy for resolving disputes and mobilizing communities for peaceful coexistence.
However, the leaders acknowledged persistent challenges, including illiteracy, unemployment, drug abuse, and the spread of misinformation through social media.
They also warned against selfishness and taking sides in conflicts, urging community members to report disputes to appropriate authorities rather than rushing into violent confrontations.
Impact on Skill Acquisition Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries of the skill acquisition component of the project shared how the initiative has improved their livelihoods and reduced idleness among youths.
According to them, DREP provided startup capital, materials, and training in the production of items such as air fresheners, liquid soap, bath soap, Izal disinfectant, and Vaseline, enabling them to start small businesses and also transfer the knowledge to others in their communities.
The beneficiaries said they can now support themselves financially, pay school fees, and maintain financial records for their businesses.
They also highlighted the establishment of Village Savings and Loan (VSL) groups, which serve as a financial backup system and platform for communication among members.
Participants explained that the skills have also strengthened family relationships as they now teach their relatives the techniques they learned.
Some beneficiaries reported that their products are even being sold outside their communities and in other states.
However, they also identified several challenges affecting their businesses, including limited markets in rural areas, delays in selling products, weather conditions such as harmattan affecting production, and lack of patronage from some community members.
Other difficulties include family-related disruptions to home-based production and the need to expand knowledge transfer to more members of the community.
Cultural Performances, Sermons Mark Grand Finale
The second day of the forum featured an atmosphere of celebration and unity as participants from the various communities showcased cultural dance performances promoting peaceful coexistence.
Religious leaders also delivered sermons emphasizing unity, tolerance, and the importance of living peacefully with one another.
An Islamic cleric from Yelwa-Zangam, Usman Garba Danladi, reminded participants that the Quran teaches believers to live peacefully with all people, regardless of religion.
He stressed that both Muslims and Christians would ultimately give account of their actions before God and therefore must act righteously and sincerely.
According to him, genuine love for God should reflect in how individuals treat others, noting that neither Islam nor Christianity promotes violence.
Also speaking, Pastor Peter Danjuma Davou of Hual-Zanga, who read from the Holy Bible, said peace is central to Christian teachings and that a true believer must value harmony and unity.
Citing scriptures including Romans 12:18, Hebrews 12:14, and Matthew 5:9, he explained that believers are called to build bridges through respectful dialogue, live peacefully with all people, and pursue unity as a fundamental principle of faith.
Following the sermons, participants from the different communities performed cultural dances that carried messages of unity and peaceful coexistence.
Commenting on the performances, Musa Sale from Duse Kura community described the dances as a practical demonstration of the peace messages taught during the programme.
He said the performances showed that peace was achievable if communities applied the lessons learned through the DREP initiative.
Participants Share Personal Testimonies
Several participants also shared testimonies on how the programme had transformed their lives and communities.
Abubakar Abdulia Buba from Mararaban Dere community recounted how the initiative strengthened relationships within communities.
He narrated how a beneficiary he had earlier introduced to the programme once surprised him with ₦50,000 to support his child’s school fees during a difficult moment.
He said the gesture demonstrated the spirit of unity and support that had grown among participants through the peacebuilding initiative.
Buba also noted that before joining the programme, he found it difficult interacting with people from other communities, but the project helped break down those barriers.
Basma Shuhaibu Aruna, team lead of the Peace Vanguard from Yelwa-Zanga community and also a beneficiary of the skill acquisition programme, said the initiative exposed her to leadership opportunities and strengthened her confidence in mediation and peacebuilding.
She said markets that were once divided by religion and ethnicity are now open to both Muslims and Christians, while peace ambassadors now promote dialogue within and beyond their communities.
Aruna added that women have also played a significant role in addressing youth-related issues such as drug abuse, while the Village Savings and Loan initiative has strengthened trust and financial cooperation among members.
Also speaking, Ayibina Tabitha from Duse Kura community said the programme helped her develop entrepreneurial skills and become more business-minded.
She said she now produces and sells Vaseline and liquid soap and has begun training others, including individuals from different religious backgrounds, demonstrating improved inter-community relationships.
Similarly, Solomon Dorcas Ingmala, a member of the Peace Vanguard from Duse Kura, said the programme enabled her to participate in mediation efforts and provided her with skills that now serve as a source of income.
She said the support from DREP helped her transition from being unemployed to running a home-based business producing Izal disinfectant, Vaseline, and liquid soap.
Another participant, Fadimatu Abubakar, a Village Savings and Loan beneficiary and women leader from Yelwa-Zanga community, said the programme strengthened cooperation among residents.
She cited an instance where community members worked together to repair a muddy road leading to a prayer ground.
She also explained that the VSL scheme enabled members from Yelwa-Zanga and Hual-Zanga to start a joint business venture where farmers and traders collaborate to sell produce collectively.
Call for Sustained Peace
At the closing session, DREP Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator Adanu Gabriel urged participants to take ownership of the peacebuilding initiatives and sustain the progress achieved.
He cautioned community members against inciting tensions after the programme and emphasized the importance of inclusion, accountability, and responsible leadership.
Gabriel also called on parents to ensure that youths are not left idle and urged communities not to shield individuals who commit crimes.
According to him, justice must be allowed to take its course through appropriate legal channels to sustain peace and stability.
The forum concluded with participants applauding one another and renewing their commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence, dialogue, and unity across their communities.
