PEACE WORK
Nenpan Monday Zakka is involved in peace work both at the local and international level. In the wake of the mayhem that blackened Jos Plateau of Nigeria, Nenpan swiftly went into action by harnessing her skills as a creative writer. She wrote a number of long narrative poems of lamentation that were broadcast over different radio stations. Innocent Minds International sponsored the broadcast of the poems. The most popular of the poems is titled ‘The Jos Melodrama’.
‘The Jos Melodrama’ is a poem that dissects and analyses some of the fundamental and root causes of the Jos vicious circle of crises. The poem is a call for truth and justice. It criticizes the hypocrisy, accusations and counter accusations that continue to aggravate the situation. The poem calls on the people on the Plateau to look at the positive qualities of one another and celebrate them instead of hammering on what separates them. The poem highlights some of the sterling qualities of some individual tribes in Nigeria on the Plateau. The poem expatiates on how much richer we are when we dwell together in unity and how much poorer if we concentrate on what separates us and are unable to live together. ‘The Jos Melodrama’ cites some world historical figures and nations, how they handled issues and benefited or got destroyed. The poem calls on the people to learn from history and choose the path of pacifism which is not weakness. The poem calls the people to the path of understanding and forgiveness, wherein lies healing and progress. The poem concludes by emphasizing that our liberation from the crises lies in truth: truth is seeing things as they are no matter where we stand.
Nenpan’s poems were greatly received by both warring parties. Because of the overwhelming responses of the general public to the poems they were repeatedly broadcast for several weeks. Nenpan has presented her poems about peace, and social justice for the child in several seminars, workshops and peace intervention programmes. Another popular poem of hers is ‘Let’s heal this Child’: a moving poem about the destitute children on the street, who because of their vulnerability unfortunately become ready recruits for terrorism.
In her quest for peace for her crisis devastated Jos Plateau, Nenpan participated in an Interfaith Dialogue on Peace and Reconciliation in the Centre for Reconciliation Coventry England in 2009. The dialogue was organized and sponsored by Bridge Builders Association of Nigeria and British Council Abuja Nigeria. See pictures of Nenpan at Centre for Reconciliation Coventry.
Nenpan and a facilitator, Mr Simon, before the statue of Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral
The Dean’s words (FATHER FORGIVE) on the wall of the bombed Cathedral, which started the ministry of Reconciliation at after the blitz.
Nenpan at the remains of the bombed Coventry Cathedral, left to stand as a testimonial that we can heal if we forgive no matter the hurt.
Upon returning to Nigeria, proactive as ever, Nenpan mobilized volunteer-resource-persons (Lecturers in the University and Colleges) and material cum financial resources, and put to practice what she learnt in Coventry, England. She launched a club for secondary school kids called MOVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE, which is aimed at inculcating ethics and values in young people for the building of a progressive and harmonious Nigeria. The two days training was a huge success. See pictures below of students at the training for MOVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE in Government Secondary School Pankshin Plateau State.
A cross section of students at the training for Movement For Excellence
Students and facilitators after the training for Movement for Excellence