From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
In order to provide women a sense of social cohesiveness and belonging, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs, has advocated for their involvement in the country’s peace-building efforts.
The minister made the call at the 4th Annual Forum of Women, Peace and Security Sector Reference Group, organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with UN Women and Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
In a statement issued by Head, Press and Public Relations for the Ministry, Grace Njoku, the minister said that women are naturally resilient and can work tirelessly to create a safe and cohesive society that will foster the socioeconomic development of any country. She added that these virtues align with government policy.
Kennedy-Ohanenye added that without women’s participation, no peace negotiations could take place because they play such an important role in society as mothers, daughters, and sisters everywhere.
She assured that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s new Renewed Hope Agenda aims to mitigate poverty, reduce insecurity, and guarantee the social inclusion of all Nigerians.
“Nigerian women are very important and fortunately for us, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is all about women because he knows that when one woman is empowered, about 20 people are automatically empowered,” she stated.
The consequently urged women in Nigeria, especially those in uniform, to aim high in their professions in order to significantly contribute to the advancement of the country.
She explicitly asked Nigerian security personnel to avoid interfering with Nigerian women so that they could advance in their daily lives.
She said, “Women must be empowered, without women, there won’t be peace, when you empower a woman, you have empowered twenty women.”
Also pushing for tax exemptions for the women who will be driving the tricycles otherwise known as pink Keke, which she recently launched as part of her women empowerment scheme, saying, “No woman should be allowed to pay any tax fee”.
Earlier, the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor (retd), in his keynote address noted that in order to create a more compassionate and peaceful world, the security sector must adapt to the multifaceted and complicated nature of women in our society.
He noted that although progress has been made in addressing the challenges in the process of women inclusion in the sector, the country was yet to attain the desired threshold.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, on his part stated that the forum for Women, Peace and Security reference group serves as a platform for advocacy and gender responsive security sector especially, as it relates to women, children and the vulnerable in the society.
He assured hat the Nigerian police is currently reviewing the policy to ensure that it addresses all issues as contained in the national gender policy of Nigeria.
According to him, “It is equally in consonant with the policy of the current police administration under my leadership with absolute commitment to gender parity.
“The forum for Women, Peace and Security Sector Reference Group serves as a platform for advocacy for the realisation of a gender responsive security sector especially as it relates to protection of women, children and the vulnerable in the country.
“It is also expected to serve as a platform to avail all key actors and stakeholders in the security sector the opportunity to review the progress made in the implementation of the women peace and security agenda in Nigeria.
“This conference also has the potential to harness the strategic roles and responsibilities that women play in evolving strategies aimed at achieving enduring peace and security in our country.
“I wish to reiterate that the Nigerian Police Force under my leadership is committed to continuing the implementation of gender sensitive policies.
“It is pertinent to note that the Nigerian Police Force was the first security institution in country to develop a gender policy in 2010.
“Further more the Nigerian Police currently engages the practices that are geared towards maintaining zero tolerance for all forms of gender based violence.
“We have and are still building the capacity of our officers to effectively and efficiently respond to all cases of gender base violence with the aim of eradicating the menace in our society.“