By Victor Bieni
ASABA/Nigeria: The Leadership of West African Network for Peace Building (WANEP-Nigeria) as sponsored by Norwegian Agency for Development Corporation (NORAD), Head of programs WANEP- Nigeria, Patience Ikpe- Obaulo, Program officer, WANEP-Nigeria, Program Officer, WANEP-Nigeria, Dami Adaoye, Peace building Consultant, WANEP-Nigeria, Mr. Esike Ebruke and other critical stakeholders has said that women inclusion in peace- building is a variable tool towards peace and security for National Development.
This was disclosed to our reporter today being 7th, November, 2019 at Swiss Spirit Hotel and Resorts in Asaba, Delta State Capital during a one day interactive Round Table meeting with critical stakeholders on Women, peace and Security in Delta State organized by West African Network for Peace building with support from Norwegian Agency for Development Corporation (NORAD).
West African Network for Peace building (WANEP-Nigeria) was established to provide an organized platform for collaborative peace building in Nigeria by indigenous organizations working in the area of conflict prevention, transformation and peace building, that seeks to strengthen the peace building capacity of organizations and practitioners for a culture of non-violence in Communities, working in the thematic areas of Women in Peace building, democracy, good governance, conflict prevention, peace education, research, publications and Network coordination.
The event was attended by stakeholders in peace building, Women Associations, Civil Sociery Organizations, Youth Leaders, Community based Organizations, Government Agencies and Ministries, the media and other critical stakeholders who dwelt basically on gender based violence in Nigeria therefore harped on lasting solutions.
The Omu Anioma, HRM, Obi Martha Dunkwu who spoke in that occasion on the roles of women in peace building Commended WANEP-Nigeria and NORAD for organizing the program as first of its kind therefore urged women to continue to be agents of change in the Society and inculcate good societal values in their children, and advised the men to give women the chance to step up their, Her Royal Majesty also urged the media to support the advocacy in Nigeria by Imbibing the culture of CSR.
WANEP-Nigeria Leadership, while dwelling extensively on United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1325 noted that the organization will localize the peace building projects in three Communities in the three states of the North-East to includes: Borno, Gombe, Bauchi and three Niger- Delta states to includes: Delta, Edo and Rivers, while stressing the need for women inclusion in peace building as specified in International law under article 25 of UN Charter.
WANEP-Nigeria while stating it’s vision and mission which basically entails peaceful coexistence among communities and provision of cooperative responses to violent conflicts stated that the organization with set out strategies for implementations to meet the target of the four thematic areas of UNSCR 1325 as set out in UN convention at Geneva which includes: Decision making, Women protection, Inclusion of Women, Gender mainstreaming for sustainable peace and security in Nigeria.
