The Federal Government on Thursday announced the launch of the National Traditional Leaders’ Summit on Mediation, Conflict Management, and Peacebuilding, aimed at strengthening traditional institutions as key organs for alternative dispute resolution in Nigeria.
The announcement was made by Mr. Abbas Hashim, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Chieftaincy Affairs, during a news conference in Abuja.
Hashim said the initiative reflects President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to inclusive governance, community-driven peace processes, and the revitalisation of Nigeria’s long-standing traditional institutions.
According to him, the summit will convene 350 traditional leaders drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The summit, which will span 10 months, will systematically engage all six geopolitical zones through intensive programmes designed to enhance capacity building in modern mediation techniques,” Hashim said.
“It will deepen understanding of democratic institutions and electoral processes, develop skills in post-conflict reconciliation and community healing, and promote inclusive governance that ensures the meaningful participation of women, youth, and marginalised groups.”
Hashim noted that traditional institutions remain vital to Nigeria’s social fabric, describing them as “monuments of endurance, wisdom, and legacy.”
“Long before the advent of modern state structures, our royal fathers — emirs, obas, obis, and council members — have served as custodians of peace, justice, and community cohesion,” he said.
“Today, over 150 million Nigerians living within traditional domains look to these institutions not merely as ceremonial relics of the past, but as living systems of governance that profoundly shape daily life.”
He emphasized that Nigeria’s royal fathers possess qualities that modern institutions often struggle to attain — including deep cultural authority, moral legitimacy, and intimate knowledge of local contexts.
“Our royal fathers are often the first responders when tensions arise, trusted mediators in times of disagreement, and guardians of social harmony during periods of division,” Hashim said.
He added that President Tinubu firmly believes in the power of traditional institutions to transform the country’s peace architecture, strengthen democracy, and preserve cultural heritage while adapting to modern realities.
Hashim called for nationwide collaboration to strengthen traditional institutions as effective, accessible, and culturally appropriate mechanisms for conflict resolution and democratic governance.
“Together, we will preserve indigenous wisdom while building capacity to meet contemporary challenges.
Together, we will ensure that Nigeria’s traditional institutions remain not just relevant, but central to our nation’s peace, stability, and democratic consolidation,” he stated.
The event was organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Chieftaincy Affairs, in collaboration with the Research Centre for Advocacy and Policy Advisory in Africa (ReCAP) and other partners.
