Over the past few months, Alliances for Africa (AfA), with support from the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), has continued to advance the implementation of the 3rd National Action Plan (NAP) under the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 in Imo State, reinforcing efforts to promote women’s inclusion in peacebuilding and decision-making.
As part of this ongoing intervention, AfA on December 19 organized a one-day capacity-building training for staff of the Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, aimed at strengthening institutional understanding and implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) framework.
Declaring the programme open, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. Nkechinyere Ugwu, underscored the importance of women’s inclusion, drawing from moral and social perspectives. She noted that women’s relevance in leadership and peace processes is fundamental, stressing that sustainable peace, effective governance, and conflict resolution cannot be achieved without women’s active participation.
Ugwu noted that women’s inclusion has long been established in the Bible, explaining that after creating man, God, in His wisdom, created woman as a complementary partner. She described women as the last born of God, emphasizing that the biblical account shows that men were not designed to function alone. According to her, if societies recognize the indispensable role of women in peace resolution, politics, decision-making, and crisis management, the world would be more balanced and peaceful.
She added that societies that fail to recognize women as critical actors in peace and decision-making often continue to grapple with unresolved conflicts and governance gaps. Embracing women’s contributions in politics, crisis management, and community leadership, she said, would foster lasting peace and inclusive development.
In her opening remarks, the Director of Women Affairs, Dr. Oby Azubuike, described the training as timely and practical, assuring participants that the knowledge gained would serve as a guide for improved service delivery. She encouraged staff to internalize the lessons and apply them directly in their daily responsibilities within communities.
Providing insight into AfA’s interventions in the state, the Programme Officer, Ifeoma Obinwa, disclosed that the organization has implemented several initiatives under the WPS framework in recent months. These include community sensitization programmes in Umuokanne and Uratta, strategic engagements with the Chairperson of the Imo State House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, and the establishment of a state-level committee to support the domestication of UNSCR 1325.
According to global data from UN Women, countries with higher levels of women’s participation in peace processes are 35 percent more likely to sustain peace agreements for at least 15 years.
At the end of the training, participants developed action plans and commitments to apply the knowledge acquired in their respective areas of work. They called for expanded awareness campaigns, particularly in rural communities, to deepen understanding of Women, Peace and Security beyond institutional settings.
Participants also emphasized the need for women to lead by example, noting that lifestyle, conduct, and approaches to conflict at the community level can either escalate or de-escalate tensions. They urged women to adopt more strategic and constructive communication methods when addressing conflict-related issues, especially in engagements with men, to promote dialogue rather than deepen divisions.
The training further reaffirmed the role of the Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare as a key driver in translating national and global gender commitments into grassroots impact across Imo State.
