UNIQUE CENTRE FOR PEACEBUILDING AND TRAUMA HEALING (UCPTH)
Head Office: No. 28A Tafawa Balewa Street, Opp. United Baptist Church, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
Website: www.ucpth.org,ng | Emails: info@ucpth.org | uniquecenterforpeacebuilding@gmail.com
Phone: +234 803 657 4262 | +234 814 010 8824 | +234 803 911 9853
Organizational Overview
The Unique Centre for Peacebuilding and Trauma Healing (UCPTH) is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming conflict-affected communities through trauma healing, peacebuilding, and psychosocial support. We work to restore dignity, rebuild trust, and strengthen community resilience by integrating mental health recovery with peace and development initiatives. Our programs empower youth, women, and local leaders to become agents of change, fostering social cohesion and sustainable peace across Nigeria and beyond.
Vision, Mission & Core Values
Vision:
… Towards a peaceful society that is free from violence and cruelty
Mission:
To foster healing, build peace and empower communities to break the cycles of violence and cruelty
Strategic Goal
To be a catalyst for systemic transformation towards peace, compassion, and resilience across all levels of society
Core Values:
Integrity, Empathy, Inclusivity, Accountability, Innovation, Partnership, and Commitment to Peace.
Thematic Areas & Geographic Focus
UCPTH’s work is guided by a holistic and inclusive approach that bridges trauma healing, mental health, and peacebuilding to restore dignity and transform communities.
- Integrating peacebuilding and trauma recovery to heal communities, rebuild trust, and foster reconciliation in conflict-affected areas.
- Promoting psychosocial wellbeing and mental health awareness as key pillars of peace and sustainable development.
- Empowering women, men, youth, girls, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to strengthen community resilience, inclusion, and social cohesion.
- Advancing research, advocacy, and partnerships to influence peace policies and promote trauma-informed, inclusive programming.
- Building local and institutional capacities through training, technical support, and knowledge exchange in peacebuilding and MHPSS.
Geographical Focus
UCPTH operates across Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions, with active programs in Plateau, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Gombe States, and outreach to neighboring areas through local partnerships and peace networks. Our work is rooted in community participation and inclusion, engaging women, men, youth, girls, and persons with disabilities in healing and peacebuilding processes. UCPTH is expanding its model across West Africa to strengthen regional resilience and sustainable peace.
Target Groups and Beneficiaries
UCPTH works with women, men, youth, girls, persons with disabilities, faith leaders, and local stakeholdersto promote healing, inclusion, and peace. Our programs empower those most affected by conflict and trauma to become active agents of reconciliation and community transformation. Through a gender-responsive and inclusive approach, UCPTH ensures that every voice contributes to sustainable peace and resilience.
Projects Executed & Outcomes
UCPTH has implemented community-driven peace and trauma healing initiatives across Northern and Middle Belt Nigeria. We have executed projects in Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna and Plateau states These include trauma awareness campaigns, mediation and conflict resolution training, peace education, economic empowerment of Youth, women and girls and psychosocial support to survivors of violent conflict, outcomes include: strengthening local structures, improved intergroup relations and enhanced community healing
Consultancy Work
Our organization provides technical consultancy to development partners, international NGOs, and government agencies in peacebuilding, psychosocial support, research, and capacity development. We have partner and collaborated with Christian Council of Nigeria, peacebuilding and Trauma Healing Centre, Development Exchange Centre, Bauchi, Azurfa Women and Youth and Development Initiative (AWOYDI), Centre for Community Actions for Peace and Development (CCAPAD), St Augustines’ Major Seminary, CRUDAN, ICIN and building Briges in city Centre (BRiCC). UCPTH collaborates with regional and international organizations such as KAICIID, USIP, Rotary International, MCC, and others. We are also part of several peacebuilding and humanitarian networks across Africa
Governance & Legal Information
UCPTH is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) of Nigeria on the 1st of August 2018 as an independent, non-profit entity. The organization operates under a Board of Trustees and an Executive Director, guided by transparent policies and a Code of Conduct consistent with International NGO Standard
Contact Information
Head Office: No. 28A Tafawa Balewa Street, Opp. United Baptist Church, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
Website: www.ucpth.org.ng
Emails: info@ucpth.org.ng | uniquecenterforpeacebuilding@gmail.com
Phone: +234 803 657 4262 | +234 814 010 8824 | +234 803 911 9853
Facebook: fb.com/uniquecentre4peace | Twitter: @UniqueCenter1 |
YouTube: Unique Centre for Peacebuilding and Trauma Healing
Founder & President’s Profile
Mugu Zakka Bako
Founder and President, Unique Centre for Peacebuilding and Trauma Healing (UCPTH)
Mugu Zakka Bako is a renowned peacebuilding and humanitarian innovator with over 12 years of extensive experience in leading trauma-informed peace mediation, community resilience programs, and psychosocial support efforts across Nigeria and West Africa. His work primarily focuses on restoring dignity, fostering dialogue, and rebuilding trust in conflict-affected communities, leveraging a comprehensive understanding of peacebuilding, trauma healing, mental health, and psychosocial support (MHPSS).
Mugu’s academic background is solidly rooted in conflict management, peace studies, and public administration. He holds an M.Sc. in Conflict Management and Peace Studies (2013), a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in the same field (2008), and a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from the University of Jos (2004), complemented by a Diploma in Computer Science (1998). He has recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology from the University of Jos, further deepening his expertise in mental health and psychosocial approaches.
His professional development includes an array of specialized training courses. Notably, he completed Adult Mental Health and Psycho-social Trauma Lay Counsellor Training with the Nigerian IDP Diaspora Support Group (NIDSG) in 2025. He further enhanced his skills with courses such as Humanitarian Assistance in West Africa, Small Arms and Light Weapon foundation course (SALW), Short- and Long-Term Election Observation Courses at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Ghana (2013, 2019 and 2023), where he gained insights into regional peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. In 2023, he became a Positive Peace Activator through Rotary International and the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP). His training portfolio also includes a course on the Health Approach to Violence Prevention with the United Religions Initiative (URI, 2023), and a specialized program on the Prevention of Child Soldiers Recruitment at Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC), Jaji, Nigeria (2023).
Other key courses encompass Compassionate Integrity Training at Life University’s Center for Compassion, Integrity, and Secular Ethics (2021), the National NGO Program on Humanitarian Leadership (NNPHL) in collaboration with Concern Worldwide, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, International Medical Corps, and USAID (2021), and the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse training from UNICEF (2020). He also completed a Counselling in Trauma and Stress and Security Management course in WUSTROW KURVE Centre for Training and Networking in Nonviolent Action, Germany (2019), and extensive programs such as Designing Interreligious Dialogue Programme, Indonesia, 2018 Dialogue & Fellowship (KACIID, Austria, 2018), and a Masterclass in Psycho-Social Work & Peacebuilding (ASPR, Austria, 2018). His trauma and resilience training include the Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) program in the USA, Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities (HROC) in Rwanda (2015). Additionally, he has undertaken Conflict Analysis Tools & Basic Restorative Justice training with PPBA and USIP (2014), and specialized peace operation courses on Protection of Civilians, DDR: Principles of Intervention and Management, united Nations Civil Military Coordination (UN-CIMIC), Protection of Civilians, Gender Equality in Peacekeeping, and the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 (2013) at KAIPTC, Ghana, delivered in partnership with the Peace Operations Training Institute (POTI).
As the founder of UCPTH, Mugu has conceptualized and developed a pioneering hybrid model that combines psychosocial recovery with community dialogue and advocacy. His approach aims to restore trust, inclusion, and dignity in communities impacted by conflict, mixing trauma-healing techniques with peacebuilding strategies. Through this model, he has mentored youth, supported vulnerable communities, and fostered long-term reconciliation in difficult environments.
His professional career includes roles such as Peace Coordinator with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and Training Coordinator at the Christian Council of Nigeria’s (CCN) Peacebuilding and Trauma Healing Centre. He has also consulted for a diverse array of organizations including Azurfa Women and Youth Development Initiative (AWOYDI), Development Exchange Centre (DEC) Bauchi, Young Leaders Network (YLN) Bauchi, Centre for Community Actions Peace and Development (CCAPAD) Jos, Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) Abuja, Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency (PSPBA), Justice, Peace, and Reconciliation Movement (JPRM) Jos, Centre for Peace Advancement (CEPAN), ICIN, Taimako Community Development Foundation Yobe State, as well as international organizations like Search for Common Ground, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World) Robert Bosch GmbH, Humanitarian Dialogue Centre, Shout Out UK (SHOUK), Mission 21, and Equal Access International.
He has also shared his expertise as an academic lecturer at the University of Jos, St. Augustine’s Major Seminary, Baptist Theological College, and LAWNA Theological College. His scholarly contribution includes chapters