Joseph Maren Peace Foundation Trains Community Volunteers on Grassroots Peacebuilding in Plateau

The Joseph Maren Peace Foundation on Saturday, January 17, 2026, concluded a major community peace training in Jos, bringing together nearly one hundred emerging peace volunteers from Jos North and Jos South Local Government Areas. The session, held at the Adult Education Resource Centre in Mungyel, forms part of the Foundation’s pilot Local Community Peace Project aimed at strengthening peacebuilding values across all 17 local government areas of Plateau State.

The Foundation, formerly Reconciliation Trainers Africa before its restructuring in 2025, has been active in peacebuilding interventions since 2008 and now focuses on community-based conflict prevention, advocacy, research, and documentation across Plateau and neighbouring states.

In his welcome remarks, the Director of the Foundation, Rev. Assoc. Professor Joseph Maren Sampson, reaffirmed the organization’s mission of nurturing local peace actors equipped to promote unity and tolerance irrespective of ethnic, religious, or cultural differences. He described the Local Community Peace Project as a strategic pilot to raise peace advocates capable of influencing grassroots dialogue and coexistence.

Sampson encouraged the volunteers from Jos North and Jos South to serve as peace advocates and connectors within their communities, promoting tolerance, dialogue, and non-violence.

Represented by Mohammed Aminu Shuaibu, the Director General of the Plateau Peace Building Agency, Dr. Julie Sanda, conveyed her goodwill to the Joseph Maren Peace Foundation, expressing appreciation for its contribution to community peacebuilding and for complementing government efforts in conflict prevention and management.

He highlighted the Agency’s mandate, thematic areas and ongoing initiatives, including peace education, youth engagement, natural resource conflict mitigation, and partnerships with local communities.

While apologizing for her absence, he assured participants of the Agency’s continued collaboration and commended the volunteers for committing to serve as peace ambassadors. He pledged sustained partnership with the Foundation to promote peaceful coexistence across Plateau State and the country at large.

Guest speaker, Salis Muhammad Abdulsalam, underscored the complexities of peacebuilding in Nigeria, stressing the impact of religion, ethnicity, and partisan politics on social cohesion. He urged volunteers to combine theoretical knowledge with real-world wisdom, neutrality, and strong value systems in addressing disputes.

Also delivering a goodwill message, the Plateau State Chairman of the Arewa Pastors Forum for Peace, Sylvester Dombin, praised the Foundation’s longstanding contributions to reconciliation efforts and encouraged volunteers to serve as early warning agents within their communities. He described peace as both spiritual and intentional, requiring persistent effort and community collaboration.

Board member, Ishaku Bakut, emphasized that peace is a collective responsibility and called for renewed community engagement to counter the divisions that have strained relations on the Plateau in recent decades. He urged volunteers to detect early signs of conflict, work with key stakeholders, and communicate concerns promptly to prevent escalation.

The training ended with renewed calls for cooperation among peace actors, government institutions, traditional influencers, and faith-based organizations to restore sustainable peace and secure a more united Plateau State.