Plateau Stakeholders Trained On Alternative Dispute Resolution

Plateau State government stakeholders have been trained and equipped with practical skills in Collaborative and Alternative Dispute Resolution (CDR/ADR).

The two-day workshop was facilitated by the Plateau MultiDoor Courthouse (PMDC) and the Tattaunawa Roundtable Initiative (TRICentre), with support from the government of Sweden through the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

The training, held under the project: “Improving Access to Women’s Housing, Land and Property (HLP) Rights through Legislative Actions and Strengthening Institutional Capacity in Plateau State,” brought together officials from 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.

Participants were trained on negotiation, mediation, arbitration, restorative justice, and gender-responsive approaches to conflict resolution. The sessions combined theory, cultural reflection, and practical simulations, including small claims court exercises, mediation role plays, and inter-agency dialogue.

In her keynote, 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.”

Lead facilitator Dr Prince Charles Dickson guided participants through hands-on exercises, while NRC’s ICLA Project Officer Jil Freeson urged them to apply ADR skills in their agencies to improve dispute resolution and community cohesion across the state.

At the workshop’s conclusion, participants received certificates and pledged to integrate ADR into their daily operations, strengthening Plateau State’s capacity to resolve disputes over housing, land, and property in ways that promote inclusion, equity, and sustainable peace.