Writing by Naomi Anzaku Ekele; Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
Kaduna State Government has pledged it’s continuous support and partnership with groups and organizations that will bring about peace and peaceful coexistence in the state.
Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu made the pledge during the Women, Peace and Security Integration meeting held at Centre for Study and Resolution of Domestic Violence, Rigachukun, Kaduna State.
Represented by her Special Adviser, Hajiya Maryam Ma’azu, the commissioner explained that Governor Uba Sani is committed to peace and conflict resolutions in the state, hence the partnership and support.
“If you noticed there is this integration of all communities in his speech, activities, in all the works that are going on in Kaduna state, so please the communities are suppose to support government in governance, so that we can achieve meaningful development and success”, she said.
She said the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development under her watch, has created platforms to coordinate and checkmate activities particularly in the local communities that would promote peace and peaceful coexistence in the state.
While commending the work of the Women Mediation Network, CLEEN foundation, UN Women and Norwegian Embassy in supporting the state government in bringing about lasting peace in the state, Hajiya Salisu called on the traditional, religious and youth leaders present, as well as all and sundry to support the move, saying no meaningful development can be achieved when there is no peace.
” We appreciate all the work that Women Mediation Network are doing because they are supporting government to achieve the participation of women in decision making, in peace building process and ensuring that all the nooks and corners of Kaduna state is peaceful.
“That is why we appreciate their work, if you noticed from the data they presented from Kajuru, Chikun, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Igabi and Zaria, you noticed that there is a large number of turn out of both male and female, so we are carrying a long our women Mediators to support government to be able to achieve those mandate our ministry is assigned and one of them is peaceful coexistence among the communities”, she said.
Also speaking, Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation, Dr. Gad Peter who was represented by Manager Programs, Mrs. Chigozirim Okoro noted that their mandate is for proactive and prompt response to peace and conflict issues in the state.
“The message is peace across broad, and so here, this women have initiated several activities to ensuring that there is peace in this state, advocacy’s conducted, training and re-training, just name it, moving from one local government to another, one community to another, even in most cases, with their resources, with their own personal resources” , He said.
According to him, the Women Mediation Network under the CLEEN foundation was growing massively in the state with notable impact.
” As at last week we had over four hundred, with even P1, we should have up to seven hundred, as at yesterday, if I should add seventy plus sixty others, that we got from university of Kaduna, we should be approaching one million”, he said.
While handing the Women Mediation Network representatives drawn out from the various local government areas in the State to the traditional, religious and youth leaders present at the meeting for their blessings and support, Dr. Gad Peter maintained that the role women play in the society cannot be over emphasized, particularly in mediation, peace building and conflict resolutions.
He appealed to the stakeholders to embrace the women, saying they are tested and trusted.
“As peace Ambassador, we are handing them as peace advocate to you to continue to give them that enable environment to them to contribute meaningfully, the society is incomplete without women, if you want to understand what I mean, we are no body without our mothers”, he said.
Earlier, Chairlady Kaduna Women Mediation Network and Founder Centre for Study and Resolution of Domestic Violence, Professor Hauwau Evelyn Yusuf represented by Dr. Bilquees Yusuf explained that the results they have achieved in Kaduna state so far, is a collaborative efforts and called for more support and involvement of all stakeholders, saying with time Kaduna state will experience almost feat.
“We have been able to see a community that experience reduction in conflict rate because of the early warning and early response of Women Mediators in these communities”, she said.
In his remarks, Madaucin Arewa Zazzau Hakimin Barnawa, Alhaji Muhammad Kabiru Zubairu commended the efforts of the Women Mediation Network so far, adding that the palace has given its blessings and full support to their work, as they go about their activities in the various local government areas of the state.
Highpoint of the meeting is the formal integration of women, peace and security structure in Kaduna state, induction of about twenty Men present into the He-for-She network Kaduna state, experience sharing by the women mediation local government areas leaders and interactive session, comments and contributions by stakeholders.
