The Plateau MultiDoor Courthouse (PMDC) has trained traditional leaders from six local government areas in Plateau State on collaborative and alternative dispute resolution (CDR/ADR) as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots justice delivery and promote sustainable peace.
The three-day capacity-building workshop, themed “Empowering Traditional Leaders for Sustainable Peace and Community Justice,” was organised in partnership with the Tattaaunawa Roundtable Initiative (TRICentre), with support from the Government of Sweden to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
Speaking at the opening, PMDC Chairperson Hon. Justice Nafisah Lawal said the training was aimed at equipping traditional rulers with modern dispute resolution skills to complement indigenous justice systems. She noted that the MultiDoor Courthouse plays a vital role in expanding access to justice and reducing the workload on formal courts.
Representing the NRC, Programme Manager for the Jos office, Mr. Ephraim Hellandendu, urged communities to embrace ADR as a more accessible and effective means of resolving disputes. He reaffirmed NRC’s commitment to supporting initiatives that empower local actors and strengthen social cohesion.
The Plateau Peace Practitioners Network (PPPN) through its representative, Bali D. Namank, advised participants to make full use of the learning opportunity and adapt modern tools to their local justice systems.
Dr. Prince Charles Dickson, council member of the PMDC and head of the workshop faculty, charged the traditional rulers to see themselves as “peace architects” in their domains. The sessions covered a wide range of topics including mediation, negotiation, restorative justice, conflict analysis, and the role of culture in ADR, with participants engaging in role plays, case studies, and a simulation of the Small Claims Court.
Certificates were presented to all participants at the close of the workshop, with Justice Lawal commending their dedication and pledging PMDC’s continued commitment to promoting community-oriented justice in Plateau State.
