A Non-governmental Organization under the aegis of Southern Kaduna Women Peace Network, SKWPN says it is ready to begin peace operations with key stakeholders to strengthen Peace Building and Conflict Management Process in the region.
This followed the resolve of SKWPN to be part of the Southern Kaduna Peace Process in Collaboration with Fantsuwam Foundation and the United States Agency For International Development, USAID.
Speaking during the inauguration of the group in Kafanchan, Chairman of Jema’a LG Council Mr. Peter Danjuma Averik said women were critical in peace building projects considering their roles as mothers and home managers.
Mr. Averik maintained that women’s potential in conflict management had been relegated as evident in their little or non- involvement in peace and reconciliation committees hence the collective yearnings for peaceful coexistence in southern kaduna and the state at large.
Also speaking, the Co-Chairman, Southern Kaduna Joint Peace Committee, SKJPC Prof. Benjamin Gugwong described women as peace builders by nature and advised them to be resolute in their campaign toward ensuring peace, unity and development of the region.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Mr. Samuel Aruwan applauded the southern Kaduna women for their dogged resolve to join the struggle for peace in the area.
Represented by Mr Clement Joseph, the Commissioner encouraged the leadership of the group to consider establishing branches in all the eight local government areas in Southern Kaduna to ensure effective Peace Coverage within the region.
In a presentation with the theme “the Past, Present and Future roles of Southern Kaduna Women in Peace and Prosperity” Dr. Victoria Gambo decried that Government has not considered women Agency as Peace Builders, hence the gap in the various Peace Processes in the state and the country at large.
She described SKWPN Programme as timely and stressed that all hands must be on deck to raise the voice and visibility of women toward guaranteeing lasting peace and prosperity for the people of Southern Kaduna.
“ This is therefore a wise and most sustainable strategy for kaduna state and all local government areas to grant due recognition to women in all their peace building processes “ she said.
In an address , Program’s Manager of USAID’s Nigeria Early Recovery Initiative, NERI, Mrs Chikodinaka Omokide remarked that women are mostly affected in crisis hence the need for them to be part of every activity geared toward reconciliation and the maintenance of peace in their communities.
Daniel Karlmax