Women from Irigwe and Fulani communities of Miango chiefdom in Bassa Local Government Area made a resolve for peaceful coexistence as part of facilitated dialogue aimed at transforming the long-standing conflict between them to guarantee sustainable peace.
Facilitated by the Plateau Peace Building Agency PPBA with support from the united states institute for peace held a round table dialogue with the theme “Our Experiences, Our Resolve”
The women opened the conversation on emerging issues within their communities and how they should continue to take up roles as women and mothers to promote peaceful coexistence within their various communities.
Among actionable points raised, was the setting up of a community market that will further promote peaceful interaction between community women and youths from both Irigwe and Fulani extraction of the Miango Chiefdom.
The Head of Women Unit Bassa Local Government, Comrade Martha D. Arai, described the effort of sighting a market at Nkiwi by phase 2 Junction as commendable, that it will drive for a better relationship between Fulani and Irigwe women and strengthen their relationship.
Director of Programs, Plateau Peace Building Agency, Mr. Godwin Okoko, noted that the initiative for setting up the market was part of the resolve and outcome of a series of inter and intra dialogue held by the women which were facilitated by the Plateau Peace Building Agency.
Also speaking, The Country Manager for United States Institute for Peace, Nigeria, Azango Abdul noted that peacebuilding is a process as such the round table dialogues like this were major steps towards achieving lasting peace in Plateau State.
He lauded the efforts of the Plateau Peace Building Agency for identifying and involving women actors in the peace process as women have been major victims of conflict globally. “Gathering the women together to identify common issues and further making a pledge for peace was a step in the right direction,” he said.
The country Manager further stated that the United States Institute for Peace will continue to support such initiative until lasting peace is achieved as it was vital for overall peace and sustainable development in Nigeria.
The climax of the occasion had the women representatives of Irigwe community, Mrs. Caroline Gwedu, Mrs. Ester Zongo, and representatives from the Fulani community, Mrs. Zainab Abubakar and Habibah Mohamed signing a commitment to peace document which was also jointly read as resolve with actionable points clearly stated.
