Professor Dahida Philip, an academic at the University of Abuja, has urged the Taraba State Government to officially recognise the ‘Ter Bali’ stool and other aspects of Tiv traditional leadership.

He made the call at the weekend during the 25th-anniversary celebration of Tiv’s traditional leadership in the Bali local government council of the state.

He emphasised that formal acknowledgment would enhance the functionality and effectiveness of the Tiv leadership system in fostering peace, unity, and development across the state.

Delivering a paper titled “25 Years of Enduring Leadership”, he highlighted the pivotal role of traditional leaders in peacebuilding and inter-ethnic harmony.

Speaking through the Ter Tiv Zamfara and Chairman, Zamfara inter-ethnic forum, he noted the critical role of traditional leaders in promoting peace and unity in any given society.

He called for proper recognition of Tiv traditional institutions to foster mutual understanding between the Tiv and other ethnic groups, creating sustainable peace in the State.

Integrating Tiv traditional institutions into the state’s administrative framework, he believes, would strengthen mutual relationships among various ethnic groups, paving the way for sustainable peace and development.

“The Tiv traditional leadership in Bali has made significant strides in the past 25 years, fostering peace, stability, and cooperation with other ethnic groups,” he said.

“Their efforts in mobilizing the Tiv people to participate in democratic processes since the return of democracy in 1999 are commendable.”

He reiterated that the official recognition of the Tiv leadership structure would empower the Tiv community and contribute significantly to the state’s overall development.