El-Rufai Names Bishop Idowu-Fearon To Head Kaduna Peace Commission

Foremost Anglican cleric, Most Reverend Dr. Josiah Idowu-Fearon
is to head the Kaduna State Peace Commission.

The nomination of the former Archbishop of Kaduna was announced
today in Kaduna.

A government statement, signed by Samuel Aruwan (SSA-Media &
Publicity) disclosed that Governor Nasir El-Rufai has forwarded the
names of four persons to constitute the leadership of the Peace
Commission. The law establishing the commission was recently
passed.

“Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has sent nominations for
membership of the Peace Commission to the Kaduna State House of
Assembly. Malam Nasir El-Rufai nominated the Most Reverend Josiah
Idowu-Fearon as chairman and Priscilla Yachat Ankut as executive
vice-chairman/chief executive. Dr. Saleh Bashayi Momale and
HajiyaKhadijah Hawaja Gambo are nominated as permanent
commissioners.
“Dr. Josiah Idowu-Fearon is the Secretary-General of the
worldwideAnglican Communion, based in the United Kingdom.

He is the immediate past Archbishop of the Kaduna Archdiocese of
the Anglican Church, and also a former Bishop of Sokoto.
Idowu-Fearon is a household name in peace advocacy and
inter-religious harmony in Nigeria. He established the Kaduna
Center for the Study of Christian-Muslim Relations. He holds
degrees in theology, sociology, Arabic and Islamic studies from
universities in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of
Jordan.

“Ankut is an expert in democratic governance, with specific
experience in human rights, inclusive political processes, justice
sector reform, conflict prevention and peace building. Her country
experience spans South Africa, Gambia, Rwanda, Malawi and Nigeria
where she has supported democratization processes in various
capacities. Ankut worked with the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) in Malawi as the Technical Specialist in
Democratic Accountability where she supported the Government of
Malawi to develop a robust democratic governance sector strategy as
part of its reform agenda.

In Nigeria, she works with the Nigeria Stability and
Reconciliation Programme (NSRP), DFID’s largest peace-building
support programme, where she has successfully facilitated dialogue
and reconciliation in communities affected by violent conflict
across the country. She holds an LL.M from the University of
Pretoria, South Africa. She studied law at the Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria.

“Dr. Momale is a development Geographer at the Centre for
Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano. He holds a doctorate
degree in Geography. He is a former Executive Director of The
Pastoral Resolve, a non-governmental organization working in the
areas of pastoralists’ education, conflict management and pastoral
resource development in Nigeria.

“Hajiya Gambo is a gender rights activist, social entrepreneur
and conflict resolution expert active in Plateau and neighboring
states. She has been involved in several peace initiatives
facilitated by the Geneva-based Center for Humanitarian Dialogue
(HD).”

Foremost Anglican cleric, Most Reverend Dr. Josiah Idowu-Fearon
is to head the Kaduna State Peace Commission.

The nomination of the former Archbishop of Kaduna was announced
today in Kaduna.

A government statement, signed by Samuel Aruwan (SSA-Media &
Publicity) disclosed that Governor Nasir El-Rufai has forwarded the
names of four persons to constitute the leadership of the Peace
Commission. The law establishing the commission was recently
passed.

“Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has sent nominations for
membership of the Peace Commission to the Kaduna State House of
Assembly. Malam Nasir El-Rufai nominated the Most Reverend Josiah
Idowu-Fearon as chairman and Priscilla Yachat Ankut as executive
vice-chairman/chief executive. Dr. Saleh Bashayi Momale and
HajiyaKhadijah Hawaja Gambo are nominated as permanent
commissioners.
“Dr. Josiah Idowu-Fearon is the Secretary-General of the
worldwideAnglican Communion, based in the United Kingdom.

He is the immediate past Archbishop of the Kaduna Archdiocese of
the Anglican Church, and also a former Bishop of Sokoto.
Idowu-Fearon is a household name in peace advocacy and
inter-religious harmony in Nigeria. He established the Kaduna
Center for the Study of Christian-Muslim Relations. He holds
degrees in theology, sociology, Arabic and Islamic studies from
universities in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of
Jordan.

“Ankut is an expert in democratic governance, with specific
experience in human rights, inclusive political processes, justice
sector reform, conflict prevention and peace building. Her country
experience spans South Africa, Gambia, Rwanda, Malawi and Nigeria
where she has supported democratization processes in various
capacities. Ankut worked with the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) in Malawi as the Technical Specialist in
Democratic Accountability where she supported the Government of
Malawi to develop a robust democratic governance sector strategy as
part of its reform agenda.

In Nigeria, she works with the Nigeria Stability and
Reconciliation Programme (NSRP), DFID’s largest peace-building
support programme, where she has successfully facilitated dialogue
and reconciliation in communities affected by violent conflict
across the country. She holds an LL.M from the University of
Pretoria, South Africa. She studied law at the Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria.

“Dr. Momale is a development Geographer at the Centre for
Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano. He holds a doctorate
degree in Geography. He is a former Executive Director of The
Pastoral Resolve, a non-governmental organization working in the
areas of pastoralists’ education, conflict management and pastoral
resource development in Nigeria.

“Hajiya Gambo is a gender rights activist, social entrepreneur
and conflict resolution expert active in Plateau and neighboring
states. She has been involved in several peace initiatives
facilitated by the Geneva-based Center for Humanitarian Dialogue
(HD).”