Plateau Peace Agency, Stakeholders Mark International Day of Peace with Walk, Calls for Collective Action

The Plateau Peace Building Agency, in collaboration with GIZ, the Plateau Peace Practitioners Network (PPPN), and other partners, marked the 2025 International Day of Peace with a symbolic Peace Walk in Jos. The walk, which took off from Secretariat Junction Bridge and terminated at Old Airport Roundabout, drew hundreds of participants including youths, women, men, children, persons with disabilities, peace practitioners, and civil society groups.

The event formed part of the #ActNowCampaign, aligning with the global theme, “Act Now for a Peaceful World.” On the Plateau, however, the slogan was localized as “Act Now for a Peaceful Plateau,” reflecting the agency’s commitment to sustaining peace across the state.

Addressing the gathering, the Director General of the Plateau Peace Building Agency, Dr. Julie G. Sanda, welcomed participants and applauded their commitment to peace. She described peacebuilding as a “multi-stakeholder enterprise” requiring everyone’s input. “Peace must start from us, it must start from our home, it must start from the Plateau. Our vision and motto is to build a Plateau at peace with itself and with the rest of the world,” she stated. Dr. Sanda expressed gratitude to partners, particularly GIZ Peace Corps, the Plateau Peace Practitioners Network, and other groups for their support. She also highlighted the agency’s focus on empowering women and youth, pointing out the presence of the Generation Peace Ambassadors as evidence of the growing role of young people in peace processes.

Similarly, Myriam Wedraogo, Head of Peacecore II at GIZ, reaffirmed the commitment of the German government to peace initiatives on the Plateau. She expressed delight at the strong mobilization of diverse groups, from women and youth to persons with disabilities. “The Peace Walk, beyond the mere event, portrays our individual and collective steps toward peaceful and inclusive societies, and this peace agenda is a high priority for the German government through the Peace Corps project implemented by GIZ,” she noted.

From the civil society angle, Nanmak Dukdam Bali, Chairman of the Plateau Peace Practitioners Network, stressed the importance of collaboration, describing the Peace Walk as a symbol of unity. He emphasized that peace activities would extend beyond the day’s walk, listing ongoing programs including prayers, a church service, and a tree-planting campaign. “The symbol of our work today is that we can do this together, and it will not just end with the walk,” he said, urging citizens to take part in the upcoming activities.

The event also featured contributions from Rotary International, represented by Rotarian Monday Akubuokeu, Past Assistant District Governor of District 9127. He explained that peace is one of Rotary’s core areas of intervention globally and locally, with the organization working closely with the Peace Agency on awareness campaigns. “The peace we have enjoyed in Jos is as a result of activities like this. Rotary is non-religious, non-tribal, and inclusive of all occupations, and one organization that does not joke with peace is Rotary. That’s why today we are out in our numbers to celebrate,” he remarked.

The voices of young people were also amplified through the Plateau Youth Council, Jos North, led by its Chairman, Paul Stephen Mancha. He introduced the council’s slogan: “Build a Youth, Build a Nation”, stressing that youth empowerment is central to lasting peace. Mancha commended the Plateau Peace Building Agency, GIZ, and other partners for involving youths in the peace process and pledged that young people would continue to collaborate with government and organizations to keep Plateau peaceful, united, and prosperous.

The Peace Walk, filled with chants, music, and displays of solidarity, highlighted Plateau’s progress in fostering peace despite its history of conflict. Stakeholders collectively emphasized that peacebuilding is not a one-day affair but a continuous process requiring inclusivity, collaboration, and sustained action.

As the International Day of Peace was commemorated worldwide, the Plateau event stood as a strong reminder that when governments, organizations, and citizens unite around a common cause, the vision of a peaceful society becomes achievable.