Gov Mutfwang endeared himself to MPs, Businessmen in UK

The Gideon & Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation has been responsive to community needs that border on peaceful co-existence, community development and governance. They have deliberately built platforms for developmental handshakes and cross-fertilisation of ideas between Nigerian communities and international partners. Recently, they pulled one through with the Plateau state government and some government and interest groups in the United Kingdom. Our correspondent caught up with the President and CEO of the foundation Revd Dr Gideon Para-Mallam sought to know more about the founder and the foundation. Enjoy the read:

Inspirational Publishers: So much has been said about the strides of the Gideon & Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, could you tell us what it is about and the vision behind the laudable initiative.

Rev Para-Mallam: The Para-Mallam Peace Foundation is relatively new in the sense that it was only officially registered with Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) June 2019. Before then, we had been involved in organizing Peace rallies and gatherings since May 2010, but we had also collaborated with other groups to start in March. First, in Plateau State, due to unexpected eruptions of ethno-religious violence which cascaded in the heart of the capital city of Jos and environs. We could not in good conscience fold our hands and be looking the other way. Since then, no looking back regarding peace building work on the Plateau. Our Peace Foundation believes only in building peace that is predicated on justice. In July 2017,  Operation Safe Haven (STF) partnered with us then known as Citizen Monitoring Group (CMG), when we organized the biggest Peace Gathering ever in Southern Kaduna which held in Kafanchan. We usually work with both Christians and Muslims. However, I was only doing this when I was free. I was also working full-time with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) the largest student movement in the world. I was then serving as Regional Secretary for English and Portuguese Speaking Africa – supervising the work in 27 countries and later 28 when South Sudan received her Independence from Sudan. With a lot of international travels, there was limitation but I must appreciate IFES for allowing me space to connect with the issues in Nigeria in a practical way. We mobilized students from the University of Jos and all other tertiary institutions on the Plateau, Muslim and Christians to protest for the release of the Chibok girls after their abduction in 2014.

With our official registration, which coincided with my retirement from IFES, I felt it was time to do more for peace in my country Nigeria and Continent of Africa. I had invested 34 years of my life, post-University graduation in student work. From then on, I devoted the rest of my life to serve as a Peace Advocate for Social Justice. My involvement in Christian mission has not changed, as I still speak in a number of Continental and global mission events.  The Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, has three main streams: First, the Citizen Monitoring Group (CMG) which focuses on promoting peace building that is predicated on justice, national and global advocacy, research and documentation of the current killings in Nigeria and advocate for an end to the killings. Second stream, mentoring – which focuses on developing young leaders for value-based leadership and those who will also serve as peace Ambassadors in Africa. Our goal here is to mentor 100 younger leaders from across Africa in a 5-year mentoring relationship of pairing 5-younger leaders to a mentee and we have identified 20 mentees for this leadership development initiative in Africa. In this stream, we also provide scholarship for orphans who are affected by the cries in Nigeria. Third, empowering women to be agents of change in their communities. In this stream we also train and empower widows. We also support the many women and girls who are victims of Boko haram’s violence especially those who regained their freedom. My wife and co-founder (Oluwafunmilayo Para-Mallam is a Prof of Gender and Development and currently Director of Studies at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies – NIPSS), is very passionate about women and gender-based violence (GBV).

What has inspired our Peace Foundation work is the teachings of Jesus Christ in Mathew 5:9, which says: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.’ Peace is central to development in any society. Religion should be an instrument of peace not hate!

Inspirational Publishers: The recent visit of the Plateau State Governor to the UK has made news back home. Your Foundation was said to be the initiator. How did you pull this through?

Rev Para-Mallam: To be honest and in a very modest way, it has been only by the Grace of God not us. The idea of inviting the amiable Governor of Plateau State Barrister Caleb Manasseh started from the moment he won the Primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). By the way, had he not won the election, our Peace Foundation would still have encouraged whoever was Governor to still visit the UK for advocacy purposes. However, advocacy is based on personal conviction, strength of character and the willingness or belief to be voice for the voiceless. Governor Mutfwang possesses all three characteristics. His coming to the UK and speaking up endeared him to many MPs, Businessmen and women, Nigerians in the Diaspora and UK Friends of Plateau and Nigeria. There were strategic meetings in London and Manchester. Some were confidential in nature but what is certain is this: beyond talking about the challenges of Plateau and Nigeria, there were also conversations around the opportunities and potentials of Plateau State as an investment destination. The Governor spoke from his heart and many Nigerians and British people believed him; as a man of integrity and someone they can do business with. Many Nigerians in the Diaspora felt encouraged and said the Governor offered them hope in Nigeria, again. The Governor highlighted areas he believes the President of Nigeria has through his body language is committed to changing the narrative of Nigeria especially in the area of the economy. Many Plateau indigenes in the UK re-echoed what many many Nigerians, British people said in Manchester and London: the Governor gave them hope.

How did I pull this through? Frankly, by collaborative efforts of working with other groups such as the Overseas Fellowship of Nigerian Christians OFNC, NCiD in Manchester and PSJ, UK. There are also key contacts within the British Society some of who I have been working with, going back to 2019 who helped. Within the Parliament, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) provided immense support and the British High Commission back in Nigeria through the FCDO (Foreign Office) also offered helping hands in contacts. The Nigerian High Commission in the UK, provided logistical support in very commendable and practical ways. There are individual British friends who came in handy to assist in various ways. The Para-Mallam Peace Foundation believes in collaborative leadership and partnership. The world needs creative-minded and collaborative leaders to solve complex problems creatively. Our Peace Foundation believes that conflict transformation and justice should be central in seeking sustainable peace on the Plateau State, Kaduna, Zamfara and indeed Nigeria.

Inspirational Publishers: The Governor had a busy week in the UK with several stakeholders, could you let us into some of the major engagements he had.

Rev Para-Mallam: I think I have shared briefly above perhaps we could leave some specifics for confidential purposes.

4. Inspirational Publishers: In your opinion, what are the low hanging fruits for the state from the Governor’s visit.

Rev Para-Mallam: Low hanging fruits? Hmmmm, shall I say some are better kept sealed for strategic reasons as the saying goes, action speaks louder than words. In the immediate, sustained engagements with the Diaspora needs to continue beyond the London and Manchester meetings. Strategic meetings with Business personalities needs to be move the next level. Advocacy needs should be matched with hard facts on the ground, so some important visits as follow-up as seeing is believing – may be needful at some point. Lastly, follow-up meetings and visits by His Excellency would be helpful going forward. The world is today a digital and global village. As one Plateau guy said, there are digital nomads scattered all around the globe today. Such nomads can provide some platforms for immediate connections. Some have donated their digital spaces for facilitation, and one may be donate a physical space in the UK.   

Inspirational Publishers: Is there any other information you wish to relay to the public?

Rev Para-Mallam: Plateau State has her present challenges, but the State also has immense investment potentials and opportunities. Supporting the government to make an impact is part of the commitment to the common good in governance. This I believe the Governor of Plateau State represents and has so far been demonstrating. True leadership is responsive and responsible governance – this is what leadership all about. As a faith-based peace building organization, we will continue to work, to both support and hold government accountable to the people, who elected them both. We will do this at the State and Federal levels and by State, I mean Plateau and other States and the so forth. In a modest way, our Peace Foundation has work in Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Niger and Borno States but we also have field officers in almost all the 36 States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We have also supported victims of terrorist violence in Kenya following the Garrisa University terrorist attack. So, beyond Nigeria Africa on the horizon for us. Thank you.