The Nigeria Public Relations Week (NIPRW) 2026, tagged “Croc City 2026,” has commenced in Kaduna with a high-level engagement involving traditional rulers under the Kaduna State Traditional Rulers Strategic Forum.
The forum, themed “The Kaduna Peace Model: Traditional Leadership and National Stability,” brought together royal fathers, policymakers, and communication experts to explore sustainable approaches to conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and development.
Speaking at the event on Thursday, Kaduna State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, presented the Kaduna Peace Model, highlighting the critical role of traditional rulers in sustaining peace across communities.
Maiyaki stressed that traditional leaders must serve as active partners in peacebuilding, leveraging their strategic positions for intelligence gathering and strengthening community resilience.
He urged them to lead dispute resolution efforts, promote inclusive dialogue and tolerance, and emphasise the socio-economic benefits of peaceful coexistence.
He further noted the importance of traditional institutions in supporting early warning systems and adopting conflict-sensitive mechanisms to prevent escalation of tensions.
“The Kaduna Peace Model proves that security without humanity is insecurity in disguise. Dialogue, inclusion, and development remain the surest path to peace. In Kaduna today, the roads are open and hope is audible again,” Maiyaki said.
In his keynote address, the Emir of Birnin Gwari, Alhaji Jibril Mai Gwari, described traditional rulers as central actors in governance and peace architecture.
Speaking on “Traditional Leaders as Communication Anchors: The Architecture of Community Relations, Peacebuilding and Development,” the emir emphasised that traditional institutions act as vital intermediaries between government and grassroots communities.
He explained that their cultural legitimacy gives them a unique advantage in translating government policies into locally understood realities while also conveying community concerns to policymakers.
Drawing on conflict transformation and social identity theories, the emir noted that sustainable peace goes beyond ending violence to transforming relationships, narratives, and social structures.
He cited the Birnin Gwari experience, where traditional leaders played key roles in rebuilding trust, facilitating dialogue, and countering misinformation during crises.
“The intervention of traditional leaders was fundamentally communicative before it was administrative. They restored dialogue, enabled culturally grounded mediation, and acted as early warning systems within their communities,” he said.
The emir, however, identified challenges affecting traditional institutions, including constitutional ambiguity, political interference, and inadequate integration into formal governance systems.
He called for clearer institutional roles, capacity building, and stronger collaboration with government and development partners.
Earlier, Chairman of the NIPRW 2026 National Planning Committee, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, underscored the importance of traditional rulers in shaping public communication and fostering trust.
He described Kaduna as a symbolic host, noting that peace is essential for achieving food security and national development.
“No policy can succeed without peace. No agricultural system can thrive amid instability,” he said.
Badejo-Okusanya urged traditional leaders to adopt structured communication strategies, tackle misinformation, and strengthen stakeholder engagement to enhance peacebuilding efforts.
The Nigeria Public Relations Week 2026, themed “Food Security: From Policy Papers to Public Plate – The Public Relations Imperatives,” will feature a series of activities aimed at aligning communication strategies with national development priorities.
