Plateau State Stakeholders Equipped with Advanced Skills in Alternative Dispute Resolution

In a significant move toward strengthening conflict resolution mechanisms and promoting sustainable peace, key government stakeholders from Plateau State have undergone comprehensive training in Collaborative and Alternative Dispute Resolution (CDR/ADR). This intensive two-day workshop marks a pivotal step in addressing long-standing disputes over housing, land, and property rights through dialogue rather than confrontation.

Building Institutional Capacity for Peaceful Resolution

The capacity-building initiative was jointly facilitated by the Plateau MultiDoor Courthouse (PMDC) and the Tattaunawa Roundtable Initiative (TRICentre), with crucial support from the government of Sweden through the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). This collaboration represents a multi-faceted approach to conflict resolution that blends judicial mechanisms with community-based peacebuilding strategies.

Held under the project titled “Improving Access to Women’s Housing, Land and Property (HLP) Rights through Legislative Actions and Strengthening Institutional Capacity in Plateau State,” the workshop brought together officials from critical government agencies including the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and the Plateau Peacebuilding Agency.

Comprehensive Curriculum for Practical Application

The training program offered participants a robust curriculum that combined theoretical knowledge with practical application. Participants engaged in detailed sessions covering negotiation techniques, mediation processes, arbitration frameworks, restorative justice principles, and gender-responsive approaches to conflict resolution. This comprehensive approach ensured that stakeholders could address disputes from multiple angles, considering both legal and social dimensions.

The sessions were carefully designed to move beyond abstract concepts, incorporating cultural reflection exercises that acknowledged Plateau State’s diverse ethnic composition and historical context. Through practical simulations including small claims court exercises, mediation role plays, and inter-agency dialogue sessions, participants developed hands-on skills that they can immediately apply in their respective agencies.

Expert Guidance and Leadership Perspectives

In her keynote address, PMDC chairperson Hon. Justice Nafisah Lawal described ADR as “a transformative tool for building trust, mending broken relationships, and fostering a culture of dialogue rather than confrontation.” Her perspective highlighted the judicial system’s recognition that traditional litigation often falls short in resolving deeply personal disputes over land and property, particularly in communities with complex social fabrics.

Lead facilitator Dr. Prince Charles Dickson guided participants through the hands-on exercises, bringing years of expertise in conflict resolution and peacebuilding to the training. His approach emphasized the practical application of ADR techniques in real-world scenarios that Plateau State officials encounter regularly.

Jil Freeson, NRC’s ICLA Project Officer, urged participants to apply their newly acquired ADR skills within their agencies to improve dispute resolution mechanisms and enhance community cohesion across the state. “The true measure of this training’s success,” Freeson noted, “will be in how these techniques filter down to communities and make tangible differences in people’s lives.”

Addressing Critical Needs in Plateau State

Plateau State has experienced periodic conflicts related to land and property rights, often exacerbated by ethnic and religious tensions. The training comes at a crucial time when effective dispute resolution mechanisms are increasingly necessary to prevent conflicts from escalating into violence. By focusing specifically on housing, land, and property rights, the program addresses some of the most common sources of tension in the region.

Women’s access to land and property rights has been particularly challenging in many Nigerian communities, including Plateau State. Cultural norms and traditional practices often disadvantage women in inheritance and property disputes. The gender-responsive approach emphasized in the training ensures that officials are equipped to handle cases with sensitivity to these disparities and work toward more equitable outcomes.

The MultiDoor Courthouse Concept

The Plateau MultiDoor Courthouse represents an innovative approach to justice that provides alternatives to conventional litigation. Modeled after similar initiatives in other jurisdictions, the MultiDoor Courthouse offers a single facility where disputing parties can access various dispute resolution options, including mediation, arbitration, and conciliation. This approach reduces the burden on conventional courts while often delivering more satisfactory outcomes for all parties involved.

By training stakeholders from multiple agencies, the program creates a network of ADR practitioners across government institutions, ensuring that alternative dispute resolution becomes integrated into the fabric of governance in Plateau State rather than remaining an isolated initiative.

Certification and Commitment to Implementation

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants received certificates acknowledging their completion of the intensive training program. More importantly, they made concrete commitments to integrate ADR techniques into their daily operations, signaling a genuine transformation in how government agencies approach conflict resolution.

This pledge to implementation is crucial for strengthening Plateau State’s overall capacity to resolve disputes over housing, land, and property in ways that promote inclusion, equity, and sustainable peace. The inter-agency approach also fosters collaboration between departments that traditionally might have worked in isolation, creating a more cohesive governance structure.

The Path Forward: Sustainable Conflict Resolution

The training represents more than just a two-day event—it marks the beginning of a sustained effort to institutionalize alternative dispute resolution mechanisms throughout Plateau State’s governance structures. The involvement of multiple agencies ensures that ADR principles will be applied across various touchpoints with citizens, from land registration offices to gender commission hearings.

As participants return to their respective agencies, they carry with not only new skills but also a renewed commitment to resolving conflicts through dialogue and mediation. This approach aligns with global best practices in conflict resolution while remaining grounded in the specific cultural and social context of Plateau State.

The support from international partners like the Swedish government and the Norwegian Refugee Council demonstrates the global recognition of the importance of local conflict resolution mechanisms in maintaining peace and stability. Such partnerships bring international expertise while ensuring solutions are locally owned and sustainable.

Measuring Impact and Future Prospects

The true success of this initiative will be measured in the coming months and years as trained officials apply their skills to actual cases. Reduction in case backlogs, increased satisfaction among disputing parties, and decreased escalation of land-related conflicts would all indicate the program’s effectiveness.

Looking ahead, there is potential for expanding this training to include traditional rulers and community leaders who often serve as first responders in land disputes. Creating a complementary network of ADR-trained community leaders would further strengthen the ecosystem of alternative dispute resolution throughout Plateau State.

This workshop represents a significant investment in peacebuilding and conflict prevention—one that acknowledges that sustainable development requires effective mechanisms for resolving the disputes that inevitably arise in any society. By choosing dialogue over confrontation, collaboration over competition, and mediation over litigation, Plateau State is pioneering an approach to governance that prioritizes human relationships alongside legal outcomes.

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