Once divided by fear and hostility, communities in Jos North and Jos South now tell a different story — one of reconciliation, trust, and resilience. These testimonies came to life on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, when the Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA) convened peace structures and networks to mark the 2025 International Day of Peace with an experience-sharing session in Jos.
The gathering formed part of Plateau Peace Month 2025, a month-long initiative tagged “Act Now for a Peaceful Plateau” that expands the United Nations’ International Day of Peace beyond September 21 into a broader season of reflection and action. For the PPBA, the decision to dedicate September entirely to peace is a reminder that peace must be lived daily — in homes, schools, markets, and communities.
“Peace is too big for just one day”
In her opening address, PPBA Director General, Mrs. Julie Sanda, explained that the agency’s vision is to institutionalize peace through community structures that are inclusive and sustainable.
“Peace is too big to be celebrated only in one day,” she said. “Our commitment is to put communities at the center, because they are the first responders when conflict arises.”
She traced the transition from the USAID-Mercy Corps PARTNER project to the agency’s homegrown Community Peace Architecture Forum (CPAF), which now provides a permanent platform for mediation, dialogue, and conflict prevention across Plateau State.
Stories of healing and unity
From Bible Faith and Rafin Pa in Jos North came moving accounts of how communities once avoided each other like enemies. “We were like cats and dogs. Nobody dared cross into the other’s community,” recalled Ibrahim Maaji. Today, he said, it is common to see Christians and Muslims working together, freely crossing boundaries, and even sharing meals.
In Jos South, Gyel and Bukuru — once hotspots of violent clashes — now stand as symbols of reconciliation. Ambassadors Yakubu IC Gam of Gyel and Isah Abubakar of Bukuru, who were themselves rivals, testified to how persistent dialogue turned suspicion into friendship.
“We are now brothers,” Abubakar declared, a statement that drew applause from the audience.
Women at the forefront
For the women of these communities, peacebuilding is not an afterthought — it is survival. Representatives from Bible Faith, Rafin Pa, Gyel, and Bukuru spoke passionately about how women have taken ownership of peace initiatives.
One story stood out: a women-led vigilante group that rescued 16 children from exploitation. Others described how women now engage in schools, advocate for dialogue, and confront issues before they escalate.
“Before PARTNER, women had no voice. Today, we not only sit at the table but also make sure peace filters down to the grassroots,” one speaker affirmed.
A model for Taraba
The highlight of the day was the presence of a delegation from Taraba State’s newly established Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management (TSBPCM). For Taraba, Plateau represents a tested model of institutionalized peacebuilding that they hope to replicate.
Bishop Innocent Rubiruka Solomon, Chairman of TSBPCM, was emphatic in his admiration.
“Taraba admires Plateau State. Within just two days of engagement, we have seen what it means to deliberately build peace through structures. These lessons will shape our own five-year strategic plan,” he said.
The Taraba team pledged continued collaboration, noting that their bureau would work closely with PPBA to strengthen community resilience across the Middle Belt.
Broadening the peace agenda
The session also featured goodwill messages. Mr. Nanmark Bali, Chairman of the Plateau Peace Practitioners Network, praised PPBA’s partnership with civil society and revealed that activities to mark Peace Month include media engagements, tree planting, interfaith prayers, and a women’s novelty football match.
In his closing remarks, PPBA’s Director of Programs, Mr. Nantip Joseph Laktam, reminded participants that peace is a collective responsibility.
“As we move into another election season, let us sustain this momentum. Peace is not the job of one person or one agency — it is the work of all of us,” he urged.
Toward a lasting framework
The event closed with the official integration of former PARTNER peace structures into the PPBA’s Community Peace Architecture Forum. This move, according to the agency, is designed to ensure that gains made under donor-supported programs are not lost but instead sustained within Plateau’s institutional framework.
For the participants, the day was more than a meeting; it was a celebration of resilience and proof that communities can heal. As Plateau dedicates September to peace, its message resonates beyond its borders — that peace, though fragile, can be nurtured into permanence when people choose dialogue over division.