The Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to advancing sustainable peace, long-term recovery, and human-centred security in the state, describing peace as “the presence of justice, inclusion, and opportunity.”
The governor’s message was delivered by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Ephraim Aondowase Kunde, at the opening ceremony of the 19th International Annual Conference and General Assembly of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) held at the Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre, University of Ibadan on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
In his remarks, the governor expressed gratitude to SPSP for recognising Benue State’s peace-building efforts and for nominating him for an honour at the conference.
“It is with sincere appreciation that I stand before you on behalf of His Excellency. We thank the Society for this nomination and for recognizing the transformative leadership he has demonstrated—especially in advancing peace, security, and sustainable solutions for Benue’s displaced population while ensuring a coordinated humanitarian response,” he stated.
Governor Alia, through his representative, drew on established peace scholarship to underscore the centrality of structural interventions in peace building.
“As many peace scholars have emphasized—from Galtung’s concept of positive peace to later frameworks on inclusion, community participation, and institution strengthening, lasting peace requires structures that address both direct violence and the underlying social, economic, and political drivers of instability,” he said.
He noted that Benue State has operationalised these principles in practical terms over the last two years.
“His Excellency has championed evidence-based strategies to confront one of Nigeria’s most complex humanitarian situations. Benue State has developed data-driven policies and state-wide stabilization plans grounded in rigorous research, interagency coordination, and the voices of affected communities,” he added.
The governor described this policy shift as a major step away from short-term emergency response to comprehensive, long-term recovery. “These frameworks represent a significant step toward ensuring that displacement is addressed not only through immediate relief but through long-term recovery, resilience, and human dignity,” he said.
He further highlighted the restructuring of the state’s security architecture: “Under the governor’s leadership, the state has worked tirelessly to improve community-level mediation platforms, enhance cooperation between humanitarian actors and government institutions, and strengthen traditional conflict-resolution mechanisms.”
These efforts, he said, reflect what global scholars describe as human-centred security—a model that prioritizes lives, livelihoods, and fundamental rights.
Governor Alia thanked SPSP for validating the state’s ongoing efforts. “Your recognition today reinforces the importance of this work and serves as a powerful motivation for continued commitment,” he noted.
“On behalf of the Benue State Government, I extend our deep gratitude to SPSP for its unwavering dedication to advancing scholarship and practical approaches to peace across Nigeria and beyond.”
He also disclosed that the state’s strategic peace and stabilization plan will be concluded before the end of the year and extended a formal invitation to SPSP for a working visit. “Guided by the principles of sustainable peace, the ongoing strategic planning in Benue reflects our resolve to transform conflict through evidence-based policymaking, community-driven dialogue, and institution-strengthening initiatives,” the governor said.
“With this, on behalf of His Excellency, I warmly invite the Society for Peace Studies and Practice to visit Benue State. Such a visit will offer an opportunity to witness ongoing peace-building, recovery, and stabilization efforts and to contribute to this strategy while strengthening academic–practitioner collaboration.”
The governor’s address concluded with a strong reaffirmation of his administration’s commitment: “Peace is not merely the absence of violence but the presence of justice, inclusion, and opportunity. His Excellency remains committed to the peaceful transformation of Nigeria, and we look forward to hosting you in Benue State.”
The event brought together policy makers, security experts, scholars, humanitarian actors, and practitioners from Nigeria and beyond.
