Achievements

The Centre, in partnership with CAFOD, conducted a comprehensive research project focused on Strengthening Indigenous Conflict Resolution Mechanisms within communities in Jos North LGA, Plateau State. Specifically, the research explored the Afizere-Jarawa, Anaguta, Birom, and Hausa communities. We are pleased to announce that the research findings have been published in a book, which provides valuable insights into indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms.
In response to the violent conflict within the Jos Bukuru metropolis, our we collaborated with security agencies, NEMA/SEMA, and the media to organize a timely workshop on Emergency Awareness, Preparedness, and Response. Held at St. Louis College Hall, the workshop targeted key stakeholders, including market traders, Cadets/Scouts, Boys/Girls Brigade, Yan Agaji, Church Wardens, road transport workers, and alcohol sellers. The workshop achieved remarkable success, equipping participants with essential knowledge on responding to emergencies, such as bomb blasts. The event received extensive media coverage, airing on AIT and Channels national stations for several days, further amplifying its impact.
Furthermore, the Centre has been facilitating regular dialogue and consultative meetings with key stakeholders in Jos and Plateau State. These meetings, anchored by prominent leaders such as the immediate past Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, and the Late Chief Imam of Jos Central Mosque, Shiek Balarebe Dawud, aim to foster greater understanding and cooperation among religious and ethnic groups. These dialogues and consultations have been instrumental in promoting peace, understanding, and reconciliation in Plateau State. By providing a platform for open discussion and collaboration, the Centre has helped to build trust and foster greater cooperation among the state’s diverse communities. The dialogues and consultations also formed the bulk of our work in DREP as it was also extended to include youths, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders in Plateau State.
It is important to note that these dialogue and consultative meetings were the drive behind the Centre’s campaign against election violence during the 2015, 2019 and 2023 General Elections. This campaign took the form of dialogue and consultation with all relevant stakeholders in the election process as well as community outreach and campaigns in the LGAs where we work. This culminated with an expanded State level interactive and fraternal dialogue session organised at the eve of the national and state elections in Plateau. The sessions had in attendance all religious and community leaders, the resident INEC commissioner and his staff, leaders of political party and the gubernatorial flag bearers of political parties. Others were security agencies, youth leaders in Jos and reporters from all the prominent electronic and print media.
Major landmarks were the signing of peace accords by the aspirants of the PDP, APC and other political parties promising to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the elections and also to conduct issue-based campaigns, and to use only orthodox means to seek redress, should they have issues with the outcome of the elections. This as at 2015 was the first of its kind in Plateau politics. Ever since, we believe it contributed in no small measures to the peaceful and violence-free elections we’ve had in the state.
The Centre has forged strategic partnerships with renowned organizations to implement a range of peacebuilding initiatives. These collaborative efforts have yielded significant results, substantially contributing to the prevailing peace across our areas of operation. Through these joint endeavors, we have successfully promoted intercommunal understanding, reconciled conflicts, and fostered a culture of tolerance and cooperation.
DREP Centre has also extended her activities to the Northeast and Northwest with office in Mubi and Kaduna where several peacebuilding activities, psychosocial support and community dialogue forums between Christians and Muslims have been held and coordinated.