By Ene Osang Abuja—
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Senator Jummai Alhassan, has emphasised the need for women to take active part in peace processes, saying this will ensure that their rights and priorities are adequately addressed.
Senator Alhassan stated this in Abuja while addressing the Women Peace and Security Conference, organised by the Ministry with support from the Norwegian Embassy, the UN Women and UNICEF.
Se n a t o r A l h a s s a n w h o w a s represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry Mrs. Ifeoma Anagbogu, noted some key priorities of the recently launched National Action Plan (NAP) which calls for the participation, and increased political empowerment for women.
Th e NAP also calls for guaranteed justice, protection, peace and secured environment for women during and after confl ict, including the allocation of greater and more sustained fi nancial resources to support women on recovery process.
According to her, the Federal Government (FG) is committed to achieving the sustainable development goals, adding that measures have been put in place to improve the quality of life for women and girls.
“The present administration is committed to achieving the sustainable development goals by putting measures in place designed to improve the quality of life for women and girls.
Th is measure includes special focus on secual violence/integration and empowerment of women to enhance their dignity.
The Minister noted that women were not only an important part of Nigeria’s history but a pivot of future development as a nation.
Earlier, the State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Kindgdom of Norway Ms. Laila Bokhari, noted that Nigeria plays key role in Africa, saying that the adoption of Chibok school girls experienced by women and girls.
She emphasised the need for humanitarian challenges to be adequately addressed, saying that would reduce the insecurity faced by the female gender.
She also said an inclusive peace process and meaningful participation of women will go a long way in solving the issues aff ecting women.
UN Women Country Rep Ms. Comfort Lamprey, called for more attention to the protection of young women particularly in the northern part of the country, stressing that many more north eastern girls deserved to be enrolled into school.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry had in her opening remarks said the conference was to ensure that women take part in peace process and that the rights, needs and priorities of both women and girls are addressed in all peace and security eff orts with special focus on sexual violence and integration.
Represented by the Director of women and gender aff airs, Mrs. AnetuAnne Aliu, she said “ the gathering is expected to create awareness on the interventions of government, international NGO’s and development partners on
