Ribadu: Women’s involvement in peace building crucial to national security

Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), says women need to be involved in peacebuilding at community levels in the country.

Ribadu spoke on Tuesday at the 2023 Women’s Peace Forum (WPF) with the theme “strengthening women’s strategic engagement in climate-focused peacemaking in Nigeria”.

The event was organised by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) in partnership with the government of Canada.

Ribadu who was represented by Zakari Mijinyawa, NSA head of strategic communications, said the federal government is working to ensure that women are mainstreamed in peace building activities.

“As you are aware, the renewed hope agenda has one of its key pillars as strengthening national security,” NAN quoted Ribadu as saying.

“The plans for police reform and also moving millions of Nigerians out of poverty cannot be done without empowering women.

“Woman are victims and also contributors to peace at community levels. So it is a key pillar of national security that at every level, women are involved.

“Indeed, the federal government is taking special measures to mainstream women into peace building activities.

“So that is why we thought it is very important to come in and participate and also to contribute in shaping the resolutions of this programme.”

Speaking on the rehabilitation measures in the north-east, he said citizens impacted by violence and terrorism have been supported by federal and state governments.

“In Maiduguri and in most of the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, women are involved in both peace building and in addressing their needs in the areas of health, psychosocial support, and also in rebuilding communities,” he added.

“So this is at the heart of recovery going forward.”

On her part, Beatrice Eyong, UN Women country representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said women and girls are more affected by the challenges of insecurity in the country.

“It is evident that climate change continues to put pressure on the wellbeing and  livelihoods of many communities and individuals in Nigeria and beyond, as its impact is not gender neutral,” Eyong said.

“Women and girls continue to be disproportionally affected by environmental degradation and climate change.

“Women tend to be more reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods compared to men, and often have limited rights to information and participation in decision making, including conflict prevention and peace making, at all levels.”

She called on stakeholders to take advantage of the conference to deliberate more on finding sustainable solutions to the issues affecting women and girls.