By Milcah Tanimu
The North-West Governors’ Forum (NGF), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has mobilised the region’s Commissioners for Women and Children’s Affairs to address the ongoing insecurity in the North-West. They discussed solutions during a roundtable in Kaduna on November 21, 2024, with the theme ‘Harnessing Women’s Voices For Lasting Peace’.
Jibril Hamza, the NGF’s coordination desk coordinator, said the meeting aimed to foster peace, enhance cooperation among state governments, and tackle the region’s complex security challenges. He emphasized that women, not just as victims of conflict, also serve as powerful agents of change capable of rebuilding communities and promoting sustainable development.
UNDP’s climate security specialist, Nurudeen Saleh, pointed out the escalating security issues in the region, such as rising banditry, terrorism, and communal conflict. He explained that these issues have devastated local populations, resulting in loss of lives and severe disruptions in livelihoods. Saleh urged for immediate coordinated action to restore peace, drawing from past workshops and summits focused on peace, security, food security, and regional cooperation.
This initiative seeks to empower women’s voices and ensure lasting peace and stability in the North-West.
