The Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission (PLASGEOC), in partnership with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), on Monday, September 29, 2025, convened wives of the 17 Local Government Chairmen in the state to discuss the promotion of women’s housing, land, and property rights. The engagement, held at Enayi Hotel and Suites, Jos, sought to mobilize the women as strategic partners in driving change at the grassroots.
In her keynote address, the Acting Chairperson of PLASGEOC and Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender, Barr. Olivia Dazyam, described the denial of women’s inheritance rights as “heartbreaking.” She stressed that despite constitutional provisions and Supreme Court judgments affirming women’s rights, discriminatory cultural practices remain entrenched.
“Our law mandates us to pay special attention to the vulnerable, and women and children are at the heart of this. We consider the wives of local government chairmen as strategic partners because they are closest to the grassroots where these injustices happen,” she said. Dazyam also highlighted cases of child trafficking and exploitation linked to weak social protection systems, urging the participants to strengthen advocacy in their communities.
Kumbo Divine Dung, Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) Technical Assistant at NRC, presented findings from a recent survey, revealing that widows and divorced women are most vulnerable to eviction and disinheritance. She called for urgent law reform, increased awareness, and inclusive dispute resolution mechanisms.
A paper presented at the engagement, titled “Securing Our Future: The Urgent Need for a Progressive Women and Children Inheritance Law in Plateau State” by NRC consultant Obioma Ngozi Achilefu, underscored the devastating effects of disinheritance on families. Through real-life stories, Achilefu demonstrated how widows and orphans are often left destitute and vulnerable to exploitation. She urged the participants to use their influence to support the proposed Women and Children Inheritance Bill, which seeks to guarantee widows a share of their late husband’s estate, protect children’s inheritance, and harmonize local customs with human rights principles.
Some of the participants also shared their perspectives. Ambassador Mercy Dung Silas, wife of the Executive Chairman of Jos South, praised the initiative as timely. “For some of us, we’ve already started advocacy campaigns in our local governments. Writing wills and educating women on property rights is key to reducing inheritance conflicts. We also want to appreciate the Norwegian government for supporting this cause,” she said.
Similarly, Mrs. Deborah Sati Shuwa, First Lady of Riyom, linked the engagement to ongoing challenges in her area. “In Riyom, we have many cases of trafficking and abuse. This training has helped us with better approaches to awareness and protection. Women must be careful with how their children are treated and stop giving them away carelessly,” she cautioned.
During the interactive session, participants recounted experiences of cultural resistance, inheritance disputes, and challenges with next-of-kin documentation. They emphasized the need for continuous sensitization to empower women with knowledge of their rights.
The meeting ended with a collective pledge by the wives of local government chairmen to serve as advocates for women’s housing, land, and property rights, strengthening efforts to break cultural barriers and support the proposed inheritance law in Plateau State.