NIGERIA’S TOP POLICY INSTITUTE DG APOLOGISES TO PLATEAU COMMUNITY OVER MISINTERPRETED REMARKS
NIPSS chief meets traditional ruler in Jos, pledges peace and youth programmes amid security concerns
Our Correspondent
The head of Nigeria’s premier policy think-tank has publicly apologized to the Berom ethnic group and people of Plateau State in central Nigeria after comments he made in a media interview were widely misinterpreted.
Prof. Ayo Omotayo, Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, delivered the apology on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, during a peace-building visit to His Royal Majesty Da Jacob Gyang Buba, the Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman of the Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs.
Speaking at the palace before traditional rulers and community leaders of the Berom Nation, Prof. Omotayo said he never intended to blame the Berom people or cast aspersions on any community.
He acknowledged his remarks had caused concern and offered what he called an “unreserved apology” while seeking the understanding of the royal father.
The DG stressed that NIPSS remains part of its host community and is committed to stability in Plateau, a state that has experienced years of communal clashes and attacks linked to disputes over land and identity.
He highlighted ongoing community programmes: educational support, ICT and digital skills training for youth, school mentorship, and advocacy for girl-child education.
Prof. Omotayo also said the Institute is working with Nigerian security agencies to ensure investigations into recent attacks are “thorough, professional, and fair, while preserving the dignity of all communities.”
He urged political and community leaders to avoid inflammatory narratives and to prioritize dialogue.
“We must choose dialogue and collective responsibility in sustaining peace,” he said.
Prof. Omotayo, who was accompanied by NIPSS management and senior staff, thanked the Gbong Gwom Jos for his leadership and pledged to deepen engagement with the Berom people to build trust and social cohesion.
Responding on behalf of the Gbong Gwom Jos, Dr. Dachollom Jambol, the Chairman of the Berom Elders Council, welcomed the gesture of reconciliation.
He called on the Plateau State Government to constitute an independent panel to investigate recent attacks, arguing that “a comprehensive inquiry would help uncover the facts, ensure justice, and promote lasting peace.”
NIPSS, based in Kuru, near Jos, is the federal government’s foremost institute for training senior public officials, military officers, and corporate leaders in policy and strategy.
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