The Tiv ethnic leadership in Zamfara State has urged the establishment of an inter-ethnic peacebuilding committee in Taraba State to address the recurring crises among the diverse ethnic groups in the region. This appeal was made during the weekend’s Silver Jubilee celebration of Tiv Traditional Leadership in Bali Local Government Council of Taraba State.

Zaki Abaver Joels Terkuram, the leader of the Tiv ethnic group and Tiv monarch in Zamfara, spearheaded the initiative, emphasizing that such a committee could serve as a platform for resolving conflicts at their nascent stages. He highlighted the potential for fostering development and prosperity through early conflict resolution mechanisms.

During the celebration, the monarch presented a paper titled, Principles of Effective Leadership Among Tiv Traditional Leadership in the Maintenance of Peace, Unity, and Progress in a Divided and Multi-lingual Society. In his presentation, he outlined several strategies to promote lasting peace. These included:

Inter-ethnic dialogues to build trust among communities.

Mutual visitations to strengthen relationships.

Joint economic empowerment projects as a unifying factor.

Adoption of modern mediation techniques for effective conflict resolution.

He stressed that these measures, combined with quality leadership, could transform the socio-political landscape of Taraba State.

The monarch did not shy away from critiquing the state of leadership, lamenting the scarcity of visionary leaders who genuinely seek to uplift their communities. “Leaders are everywhere, but there is a scarcity of quality leadership that builds people in our time,” he remarked.

He took aim at transactional leadership, which he described as detrimental to development, advocating instead for transformational leadership. “A transformational leader inspires and empowers their followers to foster innovations and positive changes within a community,” he noted.

Zaki Abaver Joels Terkuram commended the Tiv Traditional Leadership in Bali Local Government Area for their role in promoting peace and unity. He urged leaders across other communities to emulate their efforts, emphasizing the importance of preserving and enhancing traditional leadership structures to benefit society.