By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Founder of the Julebrama Women and Children Initiative (JUWACI), Chief Jennifer Hembafan Alih has been inducted into the Institute of Conflict Management and Negotiation Analysts (ICMNA), a recognition she described as “a call to greater service in the pursuit of peace, justice and community empowerment.”

Speaking shortly after her induction, Chief Alih, known as Ojamalia Odahojiji, said the honour marked a defining moment in her lifelong advocacy for peacebuilding and social transformation.

“This recognition is not just an achievement; it is a responsibility. It deepens my resolve to use every available platform to promote peace, justice, and reconciliation across our communities,” she said.

Through JUWACI, Chief Alih has become a prominent voice in grassroots peacebuilding, women’s empowerment and youth development, particularly in conflict-prone communities across Nigeria.
Her initiative trains women and young people in life skills, leadership, agribusiness, financial literacy, and civic education, helping them rebuild lives disrupted by conflict and poverty.

She noted that her induction into ICMNA would further align JUWACI’s community-driven peace efforts with national and global frameworks for conflict prevention and resolution.

“As a peace advocate from Benue State, a region that has witnessed devastating conflict, I see this as a chance to contribute meaningfully to ending the killings and restoring lasting peace — not only in Benue, but also in Plateau, Borno, Kaduna and other crisis-hit states,” she said.

The Institute of Conflict Management and Negotiation Analysts is an internationally recognised professional body dedicated to advancing conflict resolution, negotiation and peacebuilding.

Its mandate includes training and capacity building, research and policy advocacy, monitoring, early warning and preventive action, dialogue, mediation, and eeconciliation, public awareness, education, and community engagement as well as conflict transformation and sustainable peace implementation.

Chief Alih pledged to leverage her new platform within the Institute to strengthen local peace mechanisms and ensure that women, children and marginalised groups play active roles in peace processes.

“We cannot have sustainable peace without inclusion. Those who suffer most from violence must be part of the healing process. My goal is to contribute ideas, lead initiatives, and help prevent conflict before it begins,” she said.

According to her, “JUWACI, working in synergy with ICMNA, would design and implement local models of peacebuilding that could be scaled to national and international levels.”

Expressing gratitude to her family, mentors, and partners for their support, Chief Alih called for renewed national commitment to peace and justice saying, “May we move forward not just with hope, but with action. May this era of crisis become one of transformation — for peace in Nigeria, for resilience and justice in Africa, and for lasting peace in our world.”

She pointed out that as a social entrepreneur, humanitarian, and gender advocate committed to promoting peace, equality, and inclusive development across Africa, through JUWACI, she had empowered thousands of women and youths through education, advocacy and livelihood programmes that foster social stability and economic independence.