by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
PLATEAU STATE: A four-day international historical conference, dedicated to documenting the history of the Jos Plateau and its adjoining lowlands, has formally opened at Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos, marking what organisers describe as a “defining moment” for scholarship, policy, and collective memory in the region.
The conference, themed, ‘Documenting the History of the Jos Plateau and Adjoining Lowlands in Honour of Prof. Monday Yakiban Mangvwat,’ is jointly organised by the Department of History and International Studies, Plateau State University, and the Directorate of Research, Planning and Documentation (DRPD), Government House Jos. It runs from January 26 to 29, 2026.
Speaking at the opening ceremony recently Director-General of the Directorate of Research, Planning and Documentation, Mr. Sam Godongs, said the conference represents a deliberate effort to bridge academic knowledge and governance through rigorous research and documentation.
“Development is not driven by guesswork,” Mr. Godongs said. “It is driven by evidence, expertise, institutional memory and a shared commitment to documenting who we are, where we come from, and how we move forward together. This collaboration between government and the university is about impact, not ceremony.”
Mr. Godongs expressed profound appreciation to the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, for his prompt support and swift approval of the conference, noting that the governor’s backing and facilitation made the gathering possible.
He described the governor’s intervention as a clear demonstration of his administration’s belief in research, history, and evidence-based governance.
Speaking earlier, Vice-Chancellor of the university (PLASU), Professor Shedrach G. Best, welcomed scholars, policymakers, researchers and students from across Nigeria and beyond.
He described the conference as “timely and intellectually-significant,” stressing that local and regional history plays a critical role in preserving identity, informing public policy and promoting peaceful coexistence.
Prof. Best also thanked and appreciated Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for promptly supporting and funding the conference, describing the gesture as a strong signal of government’s confidence in the university and in the power of scholarship to shape society.
The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed the university’s commitment to research-driven, community-relevant scholarship and expressed confidence that the conference outcomes would enrich academic discourse and guide governance beyond the university walls.
Chairman for the Conference, Professor Enoch Oyedele, described the gathering as the first international academic conference of its kind organised by the department.
He said it responds directly to pressing questions of inter-ethnic relations, unity and national cohesion, urging participants to engage critically and contribute meaningfully to knowledge production.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Toyin Falola of the University of Texas, USA, who offered a reflective discourse on power, responsibility and the role of intellectuals in society. He argued that true power resides in ideas and moral responsibility.
In addition, Prof Falola called on scholars to challenge dominant narratives, document history truthfully and deploy knowledge as a tool for unity and development.
Others were goodwill messages from leading academics and public figures that were designed to reinforce the conference’s national importance.
In another contributory note, President of the National Association of Historians of Nigeria, Dr. Zara, described the event as a fitting tribute to the intellectual legacy of Prof. Monday Yakiban Mangvwat, praising his commitment to rigorous scholarship and mentorship.
Former Permanent Secretary, Security of Plateau State, Barr. Timothy Parlong, highlighted long-standing challenges in historical documentation, particularly weak archival system.
He strongly called for “sustained collaboration” among historians, institutions and government agencies.
Former Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mike Omeri, spoke on the role of historical consciousness in fostering shared values and national unity, describing the conference as a platform for reflection and reconciliation.
Former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, who doubled as former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, emphasized the strategic value of history, culture and indigenous knowledge in national development, urging continued investment in research and documentation.
Prof. Monday Yakiban Mangvwat expressed gratitude for the recognition, reflecting on intellectual independence, scholarly integrity and the importance of constructive critique. He stressed the need for strong research and archival systems that preserve institutional memory beyond political tenures.
Organisers also announced that the conference marks the starting point for the establishment of the Plateau State Historical Centre – a dedicated archive and repository for Plateau State’s history, culture, governance records and collective memory – envisioned as a lasting institutional legacy of the conference.
The opening ceremony set a strong intellectual tone for the conference, with participants expressing optimism that its deliberations will make a lasting contribution to historical scholarship, policy-making and the preservation of the history of the Jos Plateau and adjoining lowlands.