Stereotyping and misconceptions has been identified as the major and key drivers fueling the age long conflicts in Nigeria.

These assertion and many wide ranging national issues form part of the discourse on Wednesday during a youth peace summit organised by Heal the youth in collaboration with Christian aid Nigeria and other development partners.

Our correspondent reports that a one day youth peace summit held in Jos with the theme" Youth-led dialogue for social cohesion", as participants were drawn from Bassa and Barkin-Ladi local governments.

Plateau state coordinator of Heal the youth foundation, Victor Pwajok, revealed the summit aims to reawaken young people's consciousness as peace agents, driving processes in the communities.

"Today,we intentionally decided to engage 40 youths from two local governments that is Bassa and Barkin-Ladi including 20 stakeholders from different communities to drive strategic collaboration.

"The key message is early warning system and how to manage conflict anywhere it comes where do report, who do you report to and who do you collaborate with and who are the partners within the communities, local government and they need to understand those that involved within a peace building process when something comes", Pwajok stated.

Digesting a paper presentation titled"countering misconceptions: tacking stereotypes that fuel conflict, promoting empathy and understanding, Dr. Gideon Buada expressed regret that Nigeria with over 250 ethnic nationalities suffered decades of conflicts as a results of stereotyping and misconceptions.

According to Buada,"stereotypes which gave birth to misconceptions can lead to discrimination and exclusion, fear and mistrust, dehumanisation of others not minding the fact that all humans are created in God image as well as escalation of conflicts."

He charged the youth as catalyst for peace in Nigeria to rise up to the challenges of changing narratives by discarding the influence of stereotypes and misconceptions to enhance a just society through peace education, interfaith dialogue, media and dialogue literacy as well as creating advocacy and campaign.

The project officer Plateau Consutium, Bartholomew Danladi acknowledged the
 initiative involves stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, emphasizing collaboration to foster peace in Plateau State.

"This is a clarion because we have a thin line to ensure that the old Plateau we have experienced, the peace that we once enjoyed we want to see it at this moment."