Jos, Plateau State – For many community members in Plateau, the close-out of the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) was not just an event but a testimony of transformation, unity, and resilience. JISRA is a five-year peacebuilding programme that works across faith community lines to address religious violence and discrimination.
At the colorful ceremony held on Thursday at Novel Suites Hall in Jos, participants drawn from different communities narrated how the five-year project, which started in 2021, reshaped attitudes, built trust across faiths, and gave women and youth stronger voices in decision-making.
For Mark Bala of Zaruma community in Jos North, the initiative helped break long-standing divides. “It was a unique experience that helped me know my community better and understand religion both from the intra-religious and inter-religious pathway. The changes have been notable. We are now stronger and more cohesive despite our different faiths,” he said after receiving an award for his role in peacebuilding.
Fatima Abdullahi Sani from Doruwan Babuje, Barkin Ladi, echoed similar sentiments, particularly highlighting the empowerment of women. “This project gave women a voice. Many of us are now mediators in our communities, and we have been able to step down the lessons of peace to others. It has helped us return to normal lives after years of division,” she said.
Stakeholders and implementing partners of the JISRA Nigeria Consortium described the five-year journey as one of learning, collaboration, and transformation.
In his opening remarks, Jude Likita, JISRA Country Coordinator, recalled the humble beginnings of the programme in 2021. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. Together, we took that step with great support from diverse stakeholders. Today, women are stronger in traditional councils, harmful practices are giving way to positive values, and communities have maintained peace through dialogue and early warning systems,” he noted.
Likita emphasized that though the official project has ended, the real work lies in sustainability. “Religion should never be a force of division but a tool for peace. This is not the end—it is the beginning of another chapter,” he declared.
Faith leaders also underscored the unique contributions of JISRA.
The Revd Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam commended the programme for driving key conversations around peace promotion and community policing. He, however, urged citizens to take ownership of security challenges rather than waiting for external intervention.
The Chief Imam of Jos Central Mosque, Sheikh Ghazali Isma’ila Adam, described JISRA’s manuals on peace promotion as invaluable. “I have personally sampled the manual, and it is a practical guide to coexistence. We must extend such community engagements beyond Plateau so that other states can learn from this model,” he said.
Beyond community-level interventions, JISRA also pushed for structural reforms.
Reuben Emmanuel, Head of Lobby, Advocacy, and Communication Working Group, highlighted achievements in strengthening advocacy, accountability, and inclusive participation. “We now have women included in traditional councils, and communities are better equipped to advocate for themselves. Even at the state level, we collaborated with institutions to push for frameworks on state and community policing, ensuring inclusivity of women, people with disabilities, and religious leaders,” he explained.
He noted that the consortium also took Nigeria’s commitments on minority rights and freedom of religion to international platforms such as the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review in 2023.
Mr. Nenmak Bali, President of the Plateau Peace Practitioners Network, described JISRA’s work as a model for interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence. “The seeds planted through this project will continue to bear fruits long after today,” he said.
The media was not left out of the impact.
Delivering a goodwill message, Mr. Matthew Tegha, Coordinator of the Plateau Peace Media Network, celebrated JISRA’s recognition of the press as a key stakeholder. “Through the trainings and engagements facilitated by JISRA, our network has been empowered with tools to report responsibly, amplify peace narratives, and foster religious tolerance,” he said.
Tegha pointed out the significance of a three-day media workshop in July 2024 that strengthened peace journalism in Plateau and Kaduna. “The knowledge gained has been transformative. Personally, I am now an international Freedom of Religion or Belief fellow. We will continue to shape conversations that unite rather than divide,” he added.
The close-out ceremony also featured the presentation of awards to outstanding community representatives for their dedication.
The Plateau event came just days after a similar close-out was held in Kaduna, underscoring the wide reach and lasting impact of the initiative.
As participants, partners, and community leaders dispersed from the hall, one message stood out clearly: though the five-year chapter of JISRA has closed, its legacy of peace, inclusion, and religious freedom is only just beginning.
