Writing By Aminu Dalhatu; Editing By Godwin Duru
Zamfara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting and protecting women and other vulnerable groups through advocacy, empowerment programmes and community engagement initiatives.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Aisha Anka, stated this during a dialogue session organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) to commemorate International Women’s Day in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
Dr. Anka, who was represented by the Deputy Director in the ministry, Malama Lubabatu Jibril, said the state government is working closely with communities, stakeholders and development partners to support women, particularly those facing economic hardship.
She explained that the Zamfara State Government under Governor Dauda Lawal is implementing skills acquisition programmes for women across the fourteen local government areas of the state to improve their livelihoods.
According to her, the administration has also introduced several initiatives aimed at empowering women through programmes spearheaded by the Wife of the Governor Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal.
Dr. Anka said the First Lady had provided financial support of fifty thousand naira each to more than five hundred women, in addition to distributing twenty-five kilogram bags of rice to beneficiaries.
Dr. Anka emphasized the need to empower women, particularly mothers, with the necessary knowledge and resources to enable them play key roles in promoting peace and stability in their communities.
She described women as critical agents in addressing social vices and preventing the spread of violence and extremism at the grassroots level.
Dr. Anka added that the dialogue provided stakeholders the opportunity to discuss practical solutions, strengthen advocacy efforts and develop strategies aimed at protecting women and other vulnerable groups affected by security challenges.
Earlier, the Lead Facilitator of the dialogue, Comrade Musa Umar Aboki, said the session was organised to support the Zamfara State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in addressing conflicts affecting women, children and other vulnerable groups.
He explained that the initiative was aimed at strengthening advocacy, awareness creation and community engagement, particularly by encouraging women at the grassroots to participate actively in conflict prevention, crisis response and resilience building.
Aboki noted that the dialogue brought together government officials, community leaders, media practitioners, women and youth groups, persons living with disabilities as well as civil society organisations to deliberate on practical ways of addressing social crises affecting communities.
He identified poverty, lack of education, excessive materialism and poor parental care as some of the major factors contributing to social vices in society.
Aboki therefore called on communities to work together with government in addressing the challenges.
In a paper presentation titled “Mitigating the Lingering Social Conflict Through Inclusive Women Participation in Peace Decision-Making,” the Executive Director of Gender Initiative for Sustainable Development, Hajiya Rabi Ibrahim Gusau, stressed the importance of including women in conflict mediation and peace negotiations.
She said women’s participation in mediation and peace processes could significantly contribute to addressing persistent conflicts in communities.
The Executive Director cited examples from Colombia and Liberia where women played active roles in peace negotiations and protests, contributing to sustaining peace agreements.
Participants at the dialogue also urged parents, especially mothers, to monitor the activities and associations of their children, stressing the importance of community involvement in correcting negative behaviours among youths.
In his remarks, the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim Bello, represented by the Secretary of the Gusau Emirate Council, Alhaji Sambo A. Sambo, commended the organisers for bringing together women to contribute to conflict resolution.
He noted that community leaders believe strongly in the ability of women to positively influence societal values through proper family upbringing.
AMINU DALHATU
