The Joseph Maren Peace Foundation on Saturday, February 28, 2026, concluded a community peace training in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, bringing together emerging peace volunteers from various communities across the council.
The training, held at the Riyom Local Government Secretariat, is part of the Foundation’s Local Community Peace Project designed to strengthen peacebuilding values across the 17 local government areas of Plateau State.
Addressing participants, the Foundation’s Director, traced the organization’s roots to 2008 when it operated as Reconciliation Trainers Africa before its restructuring and rebranding in September 2025. He explained that the Foundation is fully registered as an incorporated trustee and focuses on grassroots peacebuilding, advocacy, research, and documentation rather than financial handouts.
Sampson, a professor of conflict management and public policy, emphasized that his peace efforts are driven by conviction and personal sacrifice. He highlighted humanitarian initiatives, including training orphans from crisis-affected communities, establishing schools that provide free education in Bokos, and founding the College of Peace and Reconciliation Studies in 2009, which has graduated over 1,000 students. He reiterated that education remains a critical tool for sustainable peace and long-term community transformation.
In his goodwill message, David Nanpet Dala urged participants to embrace peace as a personal responsibility that transcends religious, ethnic, and political divides. He noted that violence has yielded no benefits for Plateau communities and called for collective action to restore security and stability.
The Deputy PYC Chairman of Riyom commended the Foundation’s renewed vision and encouraged youth participants to serve as peace advocates in their communities. He stressed that peace becomes attainable when individuals remain disciplined, law-abiding, and tolerant across ethnic lines.
Also speaking, Dr. Yakubu Nyang linked peace to economic development, warning that meaningful progress is impossible in an atmosphere of instability. He encouraged volunteers to adopt productive ventures such as smart agriculture to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability to conflict triggers.
Hon. Lyop Chong praised the volunteers for offering their time and energy without financial reward, describing their commitment as vital to rebuilding trust and harmony in the local government. He called for creativity, collaboration with stakeholders, and sustained engagement to ensure that peace returns to Riyom and remains enduring.
The training concluded with renewed calls for participants to apply their knowledge at the grassroots level, serving as catalysts for dialogue, reconciliation, and sustainable peace across Plateau State.
