By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC) Kaduna, in collaboration with the German Embassy in Abuja, brought together 100 indigenous women of Kaduna State in Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA) of the State, to promote peace, religious tolerance and community unity through cultural cooking, as the world marks the 2026 International Day of Peace.
The event, held under the theme ‘Cultivating Our Cultural Heritage and Investing in Peace in Kajuru and its Environs’, witnessed women from different religious and cultural backgrounds prepare and showcase traditional foods to strengthen societal cohesion.
It is recalled that Kajuru and environs had been the theatres of horrendous bloodletting by terrorists against the indigenous peoples in recent years even as the tempo has plummeted since 2023, though tensions remain high.
Speaking during the event, Director of IMC, Mr Samson Auta, said investing in women and interfaith leadership was essential to building peaceful and resilient communities.
According to him, such would strengthen the capacity of women to contribute effectively to peacebuilding and promote unity through cultural heritage.
Auta emphasized that peace should not be viewed merely as the absence of conflict, but as an everyday commitment that requires dialogue, empathy, mutual respect and collective responsibility.
He said Kasuwan Magani and other communities in Kajuru understand the value of peace, adding that sustainable peace must grow from within communities and involve the active participation of residents.
Mr. Auta said the programme was supported by the German Embassy under a project, ‘Strengthening Women Interfaith Leadership for Human Rights Protection, Transitional Justice, and Promoting Democratic Stability’, across the three senatorial zones of Kaduna State.
He noted that women often play important roles in maintaining social cohesion, particularly during periods of tension, and can help bridge religious and ethnic differences within their communities.
“Let us invest in dialogue when grievances arise. Let us invest in early warning and early response by speaking out against misinformation and division.
“Let us invest in our youth and our future by choosing collaboration over confrontation,” he said.
Auta urged participants to regard peace as a continuous responsibility rather than a periodic event, stressing that peace must be practised every day.
Also speaking, Mr. Jonathan Peter, who described himself as a peace ambassador in the area, said women from the community were invited to prepare different cultural meals together as a way of demonstrating unity in diversity.
He said varieties of traditional foods were being displayed during the programme, with women from different backgrounds working together in the preparation.
According to him, the initiative demonstrates how culture can be used as a practical tool for promoting peace, unity and mutual understanding.
“We are using culture as a means of promoting peace and unity. We have to continue joining hands together towards making Kaduna better,” he said.
One of the participants, Madam Mary Sani, said the programme reminded her of the peaceful coexistence that had traditionally existed between Muslims and Christians in the community.
She said participants came from different cultural backgrounds but were able to unite, prepare and share traditional foods.
“Today, we are cooking different cultural foods together as a means of promoting peace and unity. This shows that despite our differences, we can live and work together in harmony,” she said.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Some of the women preparing culinary delicacies together.
