Kaduna Settlement Week 2025, hosted by the Kaduna Multi-Door Courthouse.
“Justice that Works, Peace that Lasts “was the theme of the 2025 Kaduna Settlement Week, hosted by the Kaduna Multi-Door Courthouse (KDMDC) in collaboration with the Kaduna State Judiciary, held from July 28 to August 1, 2025. The event brought together over 200 diverse participants, including legal practitioners, religious leaders, community members, school teachers, school children, and Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Nigeria staff and volunteers, to learn about and engage in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods such as mediation, arbitration, conciliation, restorative justice, and Islamic Sulhu and customary law.
The 2025 Kaduna Settlement Week centered on ADR’s transformative power to bridge the gap between the formal justice system and citizens’ daily lives by creating an inclusive and litigation-free process to resolve conflict, invite reconciliation, and create sustainable peace. To facilitate the use of the inclusive dignity-promoting ADR process, all Kaduna State courts were temporarily closed to allow participation by judicial officers and community leaders, while providing the opportunity for citizens, especially those who are marginalized, to engage in dispute resolution that advances justice at the grassroots level.
The event also recognized peacebuilders for their work outside of the courtroom. During the opening ceremony, several distinguished honorees received formal decorations as ADR Ambassadors for their ongoing work in interfaith dialogue, grassroots mediation, moral leadership, and the adoption of community-based justice based on mutual respect and shared values.
GPF Nigeria Country Director Reverend John Joseph Hayab and GPF Nigeria Northern Coordinator Sheikh Halliru Abdullahi Maraya were included in this esteemed group. Other individuals honored were Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State; Deputy Governor Hajia Hadiza Balarabe; Royal Father of the Zazzau Emirate, AMB Nuhu Bamalli; Honorable Attorney General Sule Shaibu; AMB Segun Ogunyannwo, Barr; Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State; Deputy Governor Hajia Hadiza Balarabe; Royal Father of the Zazzau Emirate, AMB Nuhu Bamalli; Honorable Attorney General Sule Shaibu; AMB Segun Ogunyannwo, Barr. And Rebecca Sabo John.
Kaduna Settlement Week 2025, hosted by the Kaduna Multi-Door Courthouse.
Reverend Hayab remarked that “peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, truth, and understanding.” These principles are in harmony with both GPF Nigeria’s mission and KDMDC’s vision. Further, Sheikh Maraya was recognized for his unwavering commitment to religious tolerance and grassroots engagement.
In his keynote address, Ambassador Segun Ogunyannwo stated, “I want to sincerely appreciate the Kaduna Multi-Door Courthouse and civil society partners such as the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria for their unwavering commitment to promoting accessible and restorative justice. The 2025 Kaduna Settlement Week was more than just an event; it was a powerful reflection of what justice should truly represent: accessibility, restoration, and respect for human dignity.”
Hon. Justice Muhammad Tukur Mu’azu Aliyu, Chief Judge of Kaduna State, also remarked on ADR’s benefits when he commented, “I urge all parties with eligible cases to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by this Settlement Week. Mediation and other ADR methods do not just save time and resources. They also preserve relationships and offer flexible, sustainable solutions that traditional litigation often cannot provide.”
Kaduna Settlement Week 2025, hosted by the Kaduna Multi-Door Courthouse.
Innovations initiated during the 2025 Settlement Week included the introduction of bilingual ADR Manuals in English and Hausa and the “Peace Vanguards” initiative. This initiative, which educates schoolchildren on ADR and conflict resolution skills, empowers young people by equipping them with peacebuilding knowledge and skills. In addition, it represents a much-needed investment in their journey to become moral and innovative leaders, creating harmony in their communities.
The event offered daily settlement clinics from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., during which community members could participate free of charge in ADR processes that encouraged a values-driven approach to peacebuilding. Reconciliation was promoted over litigation, creating an environment based on restorative justice.
Both quantitative and qualitative measures indicated the 2025 Settlement Week was successful. Participant feedback denoted an 85 percent satisfaction rate with the fairness and accessibility of ADR processes, with over 400 cases resolved. In addition, over 500 ADR manuals in Hausa and English were distributed.
Qualitative outcomes of the 2025 Settlement Week included: improved practical competence of judicial officers and community stakeholders, increased ADR awareness by participants, capacity building of young advocates, and integration of cultural competence. These outcomes highlighted the positive impact of the synergy between the judicial system and grassroots peacebuilding initiatives to create a community-based and viable alternative to litigation.
GPF Nigeria will continue to work with its partners to expand the use of values-based peacebuilding approaches, such as ADR, to promote peaceful reconciliation. It is through these collaborative efforts that sustainable peace can become a reality.
Learn more: GPF | Nigeria
