UNWomen, Nigerian Govt, Women Mediators, Others, Harp On Women’s Role In Peace, Security

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 12, 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. 

Mr. Peter Mancha, Senior Programme Officer with UN Women, explained that the meeting aimed to involve women in policy implementation, create synergy, and exchange best practices.

“To promote women’s participation in peace processes and support women’s leadership in conflict resolution.

“To create a platform for women Mediators to share their experiences and best practices.

“To strengthen the capacity of women Mediators to engage in peacebuilding and conflict resolution,” he said

Mancha added that We want to ensure that women’s voices are heard and their concerns addressed in the peacebuilding process.

Mrs. Rita Kigbara, Secretary of the National Network of Nigeria Women Mediators, stressed the need for women to continue building peace and fostering reconciliation based on equality.

“Women are key agents of change in their communities.

“We must support and empower them to take on leadership roles in peacebuilding and conflict resolution,”Kigbara said.

The forum brought together women Mediators, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss ways to promote women’s participation in peace processes and to support women’s leadership in conflict resolution.

The event was organized by UN Women Nigeria in collaboration with the National Network of Nigeria Women, Government of Nigeria, Norwegian Government, German corporation

The forum was attended by over 80 participants, including women Mediators, policymakers, and stakeholders from across Nigeria.