Jos, Plateau State – October 24, 2025
In a renewed effort to strengthen women’s protection, participation, and leadership in peace and security across Plateau State, the Women for Positive Peacebuilding Initiative (WOPPI), in collaboration with the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, has officially inaugurated the Third State Action Plan (SAP) Implementation Committee.
The inauguration, which took place at the Information Centre, Plateau State Secretariat in Jos, also featured a two-day workshop focused on understanding the State Action Plan (SAP), the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, and the Gender and Equal Opportunities (GEO) Law. The event was supported by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme—an initiative of the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), implemented by Tetra Tech International Development.
Speaking at the event, Caroline Panglang Dafur, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, described the inauguration as a significant milestone in ensuring women’s inclusion in peace and security decision-making.
“This gathering is very important because it gives women a place in society, especially in peace and security discussions,” Dafur stated. “Women and children are the most affected during crises, so it is only right that women sit at the table where security decisions are made, rather than having such decisions taken on their behalf.”
She emphasized that the ministry will supervise and support the implementation of the Third State Action Plan, describing it as a guiding document that empowers women to engage in dialogue, mediation, and community peacebuilding.
Also speaking, Lantana Abdullahi, Executive Director of WOPPI, noted that Plateau State has made remarkable progress in advancing women’s inclusion through the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, having successfully developed the first, second, and now the third generation of the State Action Plan.
“This committee, made up of 35 members drawn from civil society, media, security agencies, faith-based groups, and women organizations, will support the Ministry in driving, implementing, and monitoring the Third State Action Plan,” Abdullahi said.
“We know that in Nigeria, policies are often adopted but not fully implemented. Our role as civil society is to ensure that this plan does not suffer that fate. With support from the SPRiNG programme and FCDO, we are building the capacity of the committee to understand the SAP, VAPP, and GEO laws for effective implementation.”
On her part, Ambassador Bridget Dakyes, State Coordinator for the Women, Peace and Security Network, highlighted the evolution of the State Action Plans from the first to the third generation, emphasizing their alignment with the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
“Each phase of the SAP builds on the last, refining strategies to protect women’s rights, prevent gender-based violence, and promote women’s leadership in decision-making,” Dakyes explained. “This new phase will focus on monitoring progress, identifying gaps, and providing relief and recovery support to women, including those in IDP camps.”
She added that the new plan would strengthen community-level engagement and ensure women’s voices are represented at all decision-making levels in Plateau State.
Panmak Lere, Chairman of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) and member of the committee, said the committee’s work would also help to domesticate key national policies such as the VAPP Act and expand implementation to local government levels.
“Our goal is to ensure Plateau adopts and effectively implements frameworks that protect women, promote inclusivity, and strengthen community security,” he said.
The inauguration marks a significant step toward advancing gender inclusion and sustainable peace in Plateau State, reaffirming the government’s and partners’ commitment to empowering women as agents of peace and development.
