Plateau State Peace Building Agency Hosts Appreciative Inquiry Workshop to Mark Peace Month

As part of activities lined up for the commemoration of Peace Month 2025, the Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PSPBA) organized an Appreciative Inquiry Workshop at Villa Grande Hotel, Jos. The event brought together participants from across the Jos-Bukuru Metropolis under the theme: “Act Now, Speak Peace: Positive Messages for a Peaceful Plateau.”

In a welcome address, the Director General of the Agency, Dr. Julie Sanda, ably represented by the Director of Administration, Mr. Elkanah Izam, appreciated Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his proactive leadership in fostering peace and security in the state. He noted that under Dr. Sanda’s stewardship, the Agency has deepened citizenship engagement through initiatives such as peace walks, community dialogues, and arts exhibitions; all geared towards promoting peaceful coexistence and unity in Plateau State.

A highlight of the event was the introduction of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) as a tool for peacebuilding. Appreciative Inquiry is a strength-based approach that focuses on what works well in communities, amplifying positive stories and shared values instead of dwelling only on problems. By encouraging participants to reflect on success stories and envision a hopeful future, AI creates an atmosphere of collaboration and inspires people to take ownership of peace.

In this spirit, Mr. Elkanah Izam delivered a paper on “Appreciative Inquiry and Peace Building: The Power of Good Story,” stressing how positive narratives can transform communities. Other presentations built on this foundation, including “Social Media as a Tool for Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding through Content Creation” by Mr. Mathew Tegha, Chairman of PLABOMA; “Understanding Fake News (An Overview), Do No Harm’ by Mr. Kenneth Dakop, Team Lead for strategic communication of PSPBA, ‘Content Creation and Business” by Mr. Tim Kunat; and “Discover Jos and Social Media Advocacy on Environmental Justice” by Mr. Benson Dotun Fasanya. Each presentation deliberately connected to the peace theme, reinforcing the idea that individuals and groups can create change by telling better stories and making better choices.

Delivering goodwill messages, Comrade Paul Mancha, Chairman of the Plateau Youth Council (PYC), Jos North, commended the PSPBA for prioritizing youth inclusion. He urged young people to resist being used as tools of violence but instead serve as ambassadors of peace in their communities. Similarly, Mrs. Suzan Gopuk of GIZ lauded the consistency of PSPBA in championing peacebuilding efforts and pledged her organization’s continued partnership.

In a closing remarks, Dr. Julie Sanda expressed gratitude to all participants and partners, particularly GIZ, for their consistency in partnering with the agency. She also appreciated Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his enduring peace initiatives and prayed for lasting peace across Plateau State.