Professor Chris Kwaja, Nigeria’s Consultant to UN-Women, has called on the government to prioritize demilitarizing peace as a cost-effective approach to promoting stability. Speaking at the opening ceremony of a 2-Day Planning/Review Workshop on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS Phase II) Structures in Plateau State, Kwaja emphasized the need to shift focus from reactive security measures, which consume significant resources, to proactive peace-building initiatives.
The workshop, organized by UN-Women in collaboration with the State Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development and sponsored by the Norwegian Embassy, took place at the Valada Hotel and Resort in Jos, the capital city of Plateau State.
Kwaja commended the partners involved for their efforts in creating a platform that garnered support from UN-Women. He urged them to assess the impact of their work, stating, “We have made progress in peace-building programs in the country, but we have not made similar strides in security because we have failed to address the root causes of insecurity.”
Expressing concern, Kwaja highlighted the disparity in funding allocation between security and peace-building efforts. He noted that the government readily approves significant sums for security, often neglecting the importance of investing in peace-building endeavors. Kwaja called for a shift in mindset, emphasizing the cost-effectiveness of prioritizing peaceful coexistence and investing in sustainable peace.
“We must engage the government in peace-building development and involve women in peace and security initiatives,” advised Kwaja, underscoring the need for collaborative efforts to achieve lasting peace.
Peter Mancha, the Programme Manager of WPS, explained that the purpose of the workshop was to conduct a review and analyze the progress made thus far. The participants aimed to address the challenges encountered during the implementation of the WPS program and explore ways to overcome them. Mancha commended Plateau State for ranking second in the WPS process.
Eld. Amb Justina Mike Ngwobia, a leader of the Women Peace Mentors in Plateau State, expressed gratitude to UN-Women for their unwavering support and called for increased visibility to amplify women’s voices in Nigeria.
Da Dalyop Dudu, the State Coordinator of HeForShe Network, pointed out that many members were unaware of the network’s activities and requested training from UN-Women to enhance their understanding and involvement.
Mrs. Hassana Ayika, the Plateau State Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, officially opened the workshop. Represented by Mrs. Justina Guful, the Ministry’s Director of Social Welfare, Ayika encouraged stakeholders to openly share their challenges. This transparency would enable them to collectively find solutions to the issues at hand.
Speaking on behalf of the WPS Media Network, Mr Alex Audu emphasized the need for various platforms of the media to support women’s initiatives in Nigeria and amplify their voices through media reports.
The workshop featured presentations by various partners involved in the initiative as participants went on to review, harmonize, develop and adopt work plans for phase 2 of the state action plan of the project.
