Organisation trains 400 rural women in conflict management, leadership skills

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigeria (CWEENS), has trained 400 rural women in conflict management, leadership and public speaking skills, its official said on Saturday.

Ms Noro Bature, the UN Women Project Officer of CWEENS, stated this at the UN Women Steering Committee quarterly meeting in Jos.

The committee was established to facilitate the UN project in Plateau on “Promoting Women’s Engagement in Peace and Security in Northern Nigeria’’.

She said the training was conducted in Mangu and Riyom LGs, with 80 participants, who later organised a step-down training for 400 women in their various communities.

“We trained 80 women, 40 each from Mangu and Riyom LGs. This training yielded a step-down training for 400 more women in their various communities.

“We also established a Girls Empowerment Mainstream (GEM) Club in 8 schools which would extend to other schools in the next quarter,’’ she said.

Also speaking at the meeting, Mrs Jumai Fidelis, the Project Officer for the Centre for Peace Advancement in Nigeria (CEPAN), said that the organisation has conducted an exchange visit in communities in Wase and Jos-North LGs.

“We conducted an advocacy visit to high level stakeholders where score cards were administered, the scorecards contained the number of women in leadership positions at various levels in the selected LGs.

“The exchange visit was for them to share their experiences in the rural areas and share strategies of forestalling conflicts,’’ she said.

Ms Sewuese Surma, the Gender and Technical Advisor of UN Women in Plateau, said that they were working with partners to gazette the Gender Equal Opportunity (GEO) law.

“We are working with the Plateau Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and other partners for the gazetting of the GEO Law in Plateau.

“We paid courtesy visits to the Attorney-General in Plateau and the Commissioner of Justice for the gazetting, who expressed commitment to ensure that it was executed, to enhance its implementation,’’ she said.

NAN reports that various implementing partners of the UN Women Project on engaging women in peace and security processes were advised to synergise their activities, for optimal results.

 Tribune.