The Kukah Centre held a post-election townhall meeting in Kaduna, in collaboration with Global Rights and House of Justice, with support from Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
The Executive Director of The Centre, Fr. Atta Barkindo PhD, in his opening remark, said the peculiarities of the North-West in terms of population, security challenges and low inclusivity, made such a gathering imperative.
He stressed on the need to provide women with the platform to voice their concerns, following the elections, address the lack of inclusion in government, including abuses women face, daily.
This townhall is one activity in deploying strategies for increasing access to justice and promoting credible, peaceful, democratic processes in North-west Nigeria.
In attendance were government officials, religious leaders, officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), participants from various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) & Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), market women groups, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and members of the fourth estate, the media.
Through the wealth of knowledge shared by the speakers on the panel and the keynote speaker, the engagement looked at atrocities in the North-west from the 2023 elections, how to situate women in peacebuilding processes and participation in governance, as well as managing diversity during campaigns and elections (challenges and opportunities).
Poverty was highlighted as a major hinderance for women. This affects literacy, financial empowerment, and political prowess, which tend to affect women participation in governance and political processes.
Fadila Yunusa Adamu
