By Davidson Nwosu
In a renewed effort to strengthen women’s role in peace and security, Alliances for Africa (AfA) has trained women drawn from multiple security outfits in Imo State on peace negotiation, conflict management, and decision-making skills.
The two-day training, held in Owerri, is part of the organization’s plan to develop a State Action Plan that aligns with the 3rd National Action Plan (NAP) on the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, which seeks to ensure women’s inclusion in peacebuilding and governance.
Participants were drawn from different security agencies, including the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Forest Security Services (NFSS), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Imo Peace Advocate Corps, and the Nigerian Army.
One of the lead facilitators, Chilos Godsent, trained the women on strict strategies for handling security in different situations, emphasizing practical steps to prevent escalation of conflict and sustain peace. Other facilitators included Blessing Duru, AFA Programmes Director, Ifeoma Obinwa, AFA Project Officer, Juliet Okeiyi, and who guided participants through sessions on decision-making, gender sensitivity, and the role of women in community security structures.
Hon. Uju Onwudiwe, Member representing Njaba Constituency in the 8th and 9th Imo State House of Assembly, lamented the continued relegation of women in matters of security and leadership. According to her, the exclusion of women has created wide gaps in progress and development. “In any agency, organization, or even religion where women are sidelined, the progress gap becomes too wide. We must begin to bring women forward in security and decision-making,” she said.
Also speaking, a Superintendent of Police and Divisional Police Officer in Owerri Urban, Rita Regan, described the training as unique, noting that it addressed the intersection of gender, security, and conflict management. She stressed that insecurity is not only a men’s issue, as those who breed insecurity are often children raised by mothers. “Most times women feel security is strictly for men, but we must understand that insecurity affects everyone, and women play a crucial role in addressing it,” she said. Regan also appealed to the government to provide adequate security equipment to enable officers, especially women, to put into practice the strategies gained from the programme.
For the Deputy State Commander of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Imo State Command, Chisom Alaonu, the training was an eye-opener. She explained that conflict, if mishandled, easily escalates, but with the right strategies, as taught during the training, peace can be sustained.
Executive Director of the Ogechi and Sam Ike Foundation, Mrs. Ogechi Ike, emphasized the central goal of UNSCR 1325 as ensuring women’s inclusion in decision-making spaces on peace and security. She noted that women are often the most affected by conflict, making it necessary for them to play a leading role in mitigating it. “Women are natural enablers of peace. Their voices and perspectives are critical in sustaining peace and development,” she added.
At the end of the training, participants resolved to advocate for greater inclusion of women in decision-making processes in security institutions, sustain continuous capacity-building for women officers, and call on government and stakeholders to provide the necessary tools and resources for effective peace work.
The training reaffirmed that women are not only peace enablers but also essential actors in building sustainable security structures in Imo State.
