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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The United Nations Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, Mrs. Beatrice Eyong, on Thursday, described Nigeria as a “reservoir” of qualified and competent women who make significant strides in peacebuilding, both locally and globally.
Eyong spoke at the 2nd Annual Forum of Women Mediators in Nigeria organized by UN Women in collaboration with the Network of Nigerian Women Mediators, held at a hotel in Abuja on Thursday, December 13, 2024.
According to Eyong, the impact of Nigerian women in peacebuilding reminiscences the importance of women’s leadership in achieving sustainable development.
To her, women bring unique perspectives, passion, and resilience to the table, making them invaluable in peace-building efforts.
“Nigerian women are making an impact in the continent and at the global level because Nigeria is a reservoir of qualified, competent women.
“Take the Nigerian women to support other countries in the continent; there won’t be a vacuum because there would still be enough qualified, competent experts in their rights on the ground.
“So I really honor Nigerian women, and I want to remind you that your voice, your actions, or your inactions will have an either negative or positive effects on the peace process,” she said.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by
Princess Jummai Idonije reaffirmed her commitment to advancing the participation of women in peacebuilding at all levels.
The Minister highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to align with the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring that gender equality and women’s empowerment are central to national policies and programs.
She also promised to champion initiatives that equip women with the skills, resources, and platforms necessary to lead transformative change in their communities.
She expressed optimism that together, Nigerians can build a country where peace, inclusion, and equality are not just aspirations but realities.
In addition, the Head of Gender, Peace and Security at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Mrs. Grace Awodu, emphasized the importance of integrating gender perspectives into peace-building efforts.
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“As a federal government tasked with the mandate of peace, the IPCR has made itself available for partnership with national and sub-national women’s groups, recognizing UN Women as a key ally”, she remarked.
On her part, National Deputy President of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC), Barrister Aisha Ado Abdullahi, noted that, over the years, women have seen themselves as victims.
“Women are very powerful in peacebuilding because they are mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters. So when they impress their interest in their fathers as daughters, to their husbands as wives, they get results.
“So, this forum represents a significant milestone in recognizing and elevating the pivotal role of Nigerian women in peacebuilding.
“The theme of this year’s forum reminds us that sustainable development cannot be achieved without adequate involvement of leadership of women because Nigerian women mediators are not just working for peace, but also advocates of inclusive solution that addresses the root causes of conflict and promote justice and equality”, she added.
Also speaking, Acting Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation, Mr. Peter Maduoma, who was represented by Senior Programs Officer in the Foundation, Benard Ekobay, said, that with support from UN Women and the Norwegian Embassy, his organization has engaged women from across Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Gombe, Adamawa, and Bauchi States to change the stereotype around women.
“So far, the series of engagements have helped shape the women in fundamental aspects of peacebuilding and mediation skills, and their interest, commitment,t, and results have truly been next-level and commendable.
“The women, peace, and security agenda remains of critical importance that continues to grapple many states with complex manifestations of conflict, expressed through various forms of ethnoreligious conflict, internal domestic conflict, or violent extremism,” he said.
He, however, commended the UN-Women and Norwegian Embassy, for supporting the peace process.
Earlier, Programme Specialist, Women, Peace, and Security, Mr. Peter Mancha intimated to the participants that the objectives of the forum include how to create a mechanism where women mediators, the HeforShe, and media partners can contribute to the implementation of the third action plan on women, peace, and security.
“We also want to see how different structures can synergize and work together to achieve the ultimate goal of ensuring that our society is peaceful and inclusive where women are not seen as victims of violence but as individuals who can contribute to peace and security.
“The other objective is to create a platform for the exchange of best practices so we can have the opportunity to learn from one another and also look at challenges and see how we can overcome them,” he said.
The theme “Women leading peacebuilding: Amplifying the Role of Nigerian Women in Mediation in the Implementation of 3rd National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security” was held at a hotel in Abuja.
