By Caleb Ayansina

‘Promoting Women Engagement in Peace and Security in Northern Nigeria’.

The UN Women Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Grace Ongile said: “The programme is designed to support the Nigerian government at federal level, three northern states and selected constituent local government areas, to strengthen women’s leadership, advance gender equality and improve protection for women and children in conflict settings.”

Represented by Mr. Peter Mancha, she said there had been less policy recognition of women, as agents of change at national and the community levels, in spite of their robust participations through the lens of peace processes.

In her remarks, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina explained that “It is important to recognize that women’s role is not only in the home, but also at the negotiating table.”

The Minister, represented by the Director of Women and Gender Affairs, Mrs. Iran Ajufo, maintained that “Decision made without women are likely to perpetuate further inequality and fuel violations against them.

“Women must be involved in early dialogue, meditations, negotiations, and peace building, because they are the one that lose their husbands, sons and their daughters are the victims.”

Marina added that with current situation in the country, “It is the duty of every individual to contribute his/her quota to solving the problem.”

The Keynote Speaker from the International Crises Communicators Network Geneva, Switzerland, Mr. Fred Eno, said the importance of women’s participation in every stage of conflict resolution could not be over emphasized.

“If we say their absence from past meditations, negotiations and peace building had been responsible for little success recorded in the past, we are not far from the truth,” he said.