Peace is Possible When Communities Choose Dialogue, Say Stakeholders

Linus Aleke in Abuja 

Traditional rulers, politicians, clerics, and peace-building stakeholders yesterday said that the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) project has demonstrated that peace is possible when communities choose dialogue over division.

The stakeholders made this statement at a JISRA closeout event in Abuja, held to celebrate five years of promoting peaceful coexistence under the JISRA project in Plateau and Kaduna states.

Speaking during the closeout event at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, the Country Director of Search for Common Ground Nigeria, Karno Ouattara, stated: “The JISRA project has shown that peace is possible when communities choose dialogue over division. In Plateau and Kaduna, we have seen barriers broken, trust restored, and collaboration flourish across religious divides. These are not just project results — they are lasting legacies that will continue to shape these communities for years to come.”

JISRA, he explained, is a five-year programme (2020–2025) being implemented in Nigeria, Indonesia, Iraq, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, and Uganda.

Ouattara stated that the project empowers faith-based actors and communities to become champions of peace, tolerance, and social cohesion.

He emphasised that Search for Common Ground is the world’s largest dedicated peacebuilding organisation, committed to transforming the way communities deal with conflict.

“In Nigeria, Search has been active since 2004, advancing peace, security, and development across diverse regions.

Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the JISRA project has been implemented since 2021 by a global consortium including Search for Common Ground, Tearfund, Mensen met een Missie (MM), and CAFOD.

“In Nigeria, JISRA worked to transform religious divides, build collaboration between diverse faith communities, and equip religious leaders, youth, and women as agents of peace in their communities,” he added.

A member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Joseph Bukar, praised JISRA for uniting communities and promoting dialogue, stressing that peace and security cannot be left to the government alone.

“Communities must wake up, adopt these interfaith strategies, and work with youth and religious leaders to reduce conflicts to a minimal level,” he said.

Bukar noted that the programme had helped communities in Plateau come together to reason with one another rather than take up arms and go to war.

“I think JISRA and her partners have done remarkably well in bringing people together, engaging, and sensitising them.”

The Project Manager for the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) at Search for Common Ground Nigeria, Suchet Musa, said the five-year programme has successfully brought divided communities together and could be expanded to other states.

Musa noted that the initiative had received positive feedback for bridging divides between Christians and Muslims in crisis-prone communities.

Global Project Support at Search, Julie Churchill, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting dialogue and reducing tensions among communities in Nigeria under JISRA.

Churchill said the organisation has been supporting local partners to drive grassroots peacebuilding.