By Harriet Ijeomah
In continuation of its community awareness campaign on the 3rd National Action Plan (NAP) for Women, Peace, and Security, Alliances for Africa (AfA), with support from the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), has intensified sensitization efforts across Imo State to strengthen women’s participation in peacebuilding and decision-making.
On August 18, over 100 women in Umuokanne Community, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, were trained as agents of peace and security to help improve safety and community development.
Participants were introduced to the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP-WPS) and the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 with discussion around the five (5) pillars. The team emphasized the need to establish conflict early warning measures which can be used to prevent conflicts and disputes in the community.
Speaking at the training, Catechist Nwosu, Woman Leader of Umuokanne Autonomous Community, decried the continued subjugation of women and exclusion from security dialogues and other decision-making processes. She urged women to rise against gender-based violence and appealed to men in community councils who display patriarchal and discriminatory behavior against widows and other women to desist from such acts.
Echoing her view, Chinonso Okpara, leader of the Odouka Women’s Meeting in Umuokanne, described the programme as an eye-opener. She noted that it reinforced their commitment to seeing women as equally valuable as men in families and communities especially in issues of security in the community. She further emphasized the need to dismantle discriminatory cultural structures, particularly those that deny women inheritance rights which is usually a conflict trigger. “Women must unite within communities and speak against their own subjugation, including harmful practices perpetuated under Umuada structures,” she said.
The AfA team, led by the Project Officer Mrs. Ifeoma Obinwa, alongside Mrs. Juliet Okeiyi, Ms Amarachi Ekeocha from the Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare and the Media Team, before the engagement, paid a courtesy visit to His Royal Majesty, Eze Dr. M.C. Nwokoma (KSC, JP, MPA, FIBAKM), Okaa-Omee IV of Umuokanne Ancient Kingdom, Ohaji/Egbema LGA.
Receiving the delegation, Eze Nwokoma welcomed the initiative and assured the team of his continuous support. He commended the visit, noting that it coincided with the August Meeting, a period when women gather in large numbers to deliberate on community development. He stressed that the training would deepen women’s understanding of their roles in sustaining peace in the community.
In her remarks, Mrs. Obinwa said the visit to the palace was to inform the traditional ruler of their presence and to seek his royal blessings and support for the programme. She also called for greater support to encourage women’s participation in community security dialogues and decision-making.
It will be recalled that during a consultative meeting in Owerri, AfA and women leaders from rural communities resolved to use the annual August Women’s Meeting as a platform to train women to act as “community security agents,” equipping them to speak against harmful practices and contribute to sustainable peace.
