Stakeholders from religious, traditional and international institutions have renewed calls for stronger involvement of women in security planning and peacebuilding efforts, saying inclusive participation is essential to addressing insecurity, particularly in Nigeria’s North-West region.
The appeal was made at the Northwest Regional Conference on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), convened by the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative (Partners West Africa Nigeria) in partnership with Global Rights and supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Integrated Security Fund.
The gathering brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, government representatives and civil society organisations from Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Kano States to assess ongoing community-based peace initiatives and strengthen strategies for sustainable conflict resolution.
Delivering the keynote address, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, said insecurity cannot be resolved without addressing structural and cultural barriers that limit women’s participation in decision-making. He stressed that justice frameworks must be properly implemented to achieve meaningful change.
Traditional leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to peacebuilding. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, represented at the event, highlighted the role of traditional institutions in conflict prevention and community engagement.
International partners noted that evidence from UK-supported programmes shows communities become more stable and resilient when women and other marginalised groups are intentionally included in peace and justice processes. They said strengthened community dialogue structures and improved cooperation with security agencies have enhanced trust and access to justice.
Organisers said the conference provided an opportunity to review progress, share lessons and reinforce collaboration between government, civil society and communities toward advancing inclusive and sustainable peace across the region.
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