The Kogi State government on Friday restated its commitment to increased women in leadership and active participation in conflict resolutions and management.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Fatima Buba, gave the assurance in Idah, at the inauguration of the members of Women Peace-Building Council in Kogi East Senatorial District.
She said the project was funded by the United States Agency International Development (USAID), implemented by Mercy Corps under the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP).
She noted that council members in all the local government areas in Kogi Central and Western Senatorial Districts as well as Dekina and Igalamela in the Eastern District, had earlier been inaugurated. She commended the Mercy Corps-CIPP for the collaboration, saying it would prevent violent conflict in the most at-risk communities.
In a remark, the representative of Mercy Corps- CIPP, Mrs. Eunice Agbogun, said the contribution of women to peace building remained critical as they also doubled as home builders. Agbogun, also the Executive Director, Challenge Parenthood Initiative (CPI), emphasised that women remained a better mediator in conflict resolution because of their soft nature.
“Women are strategic, skillful and very powerful. More so, they have the natural capabilities to intervene when there is conflict,” she said.
On her part, the Director of Women Affairs in the Ministry, Mrs. Motunrayo Babatunde, stated that the council’s goals would be to discourage violence and advance peaceful coexistence.
Speaking on behalf of the council members, Hon. Zuwairat Yakubu, Vice Chairman, Idah Local Government Area, appreciated the ministry, Mercy Corps and USAID for their timely intervention in advocating for peace.
Yakubu said the inauguration had rekindled a new fire in them as they had become more courageous to venture into every aspect of life, especially politics.
Earlier, the team paid a courtesy visit to the palace of Ata Igala, His Royal Majesty, Matthew Opaluwa, to thank him for his fatherly role in ensuring that the inauguration was a success.
The royal father commended the Kogi state government and Mercy Corps for the inauguration of the council in all the three senatorial districts of the state.
The Ata Igala stressed the need for the peace building council to continue to sue for peace, advising them to focus their campaigns on youths to ensure peaceful 2023 general elections.
