Group tasks wives of Yobe monarchs on peace building
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) known as ‘African Youths for Peace Development and Empowerment Foundation with funding support from the European Union (EU) under International Alert Nigeria has appealed to influential women leaders including wives of Emirs from Fika, Potiskum, Gujba and Damaturu, Yobe State to show more interest in bringing lasting peace in the society especially now that the country is fighting insecurity.
The group made the appeal at a three-day Joint Problem Solving & Multi-stakeholders’ dialogue with the aim to strengthen community structures for conflict sensitivity, dialogue, meditation and reintegration, particularly women and girls survivors of Boko Haram and gender-based violence.
The event climaxed with a strong commitments by women to establish arbitration corridor, “Zauren Sulhu,” at district/ward levels across Damaturu, Potiskum and Gujba councils. The initiative was to ensure the women’s effective contribution in post-conflict peace building, recovery and resilience as well as prevention and response to gender based violence.
At the event in Potiskum, the Executive Director of the African Youths for Peace Development and Empowerment Foundation, Miss Maryam Aje, said that the programme was part of the initiative under the European Union Support to Early Recovery from Conflict and Resilience consortium project in Yobe State.
She disclosed that it was led by the Save the Children, under which AFRYDEV in partnership with the International Alert is mainstream gender and conflict sensitivity in the project.
She said that the joint problem solving was among other initiatives currently ongoing in Damaturu, Potiskum and Gujba local government areas such as Psycho-social support sessions for women and girls survivors of GBV, Family Support Sessions for affected families, as well as capacity building for traditional leaders, religious leaders and social welfare officials on peace building, social cohesion, reconciliation and reintegration.
In her remark at the event, the wife of his Royal Highness, Dr. Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa, the Chairman of Yobe State Council of Chiefs, Gimbiya Khadija demonstrated her passion and commitment in peace building and ending violence against women and girls.
She appealed for the empowerment of women through education, skills acquisition and business to end violence against them.
Also, Haj. Kaltum Ibrahim, wife to the District Head of Pompomari, hailed organisers of the programme.
She said, “1 am delighted to be part of this joint problem solving and multi-stakeholder dialogue in Damaturu. Dialogue is the best form of achieving peace.
“Coming at a time when COVID-19 continues to limit our physical participation at such events. Physical attendance at this session represents an article of faith in our collective resolve to ensure that within the boundaries of health and safety, we deliberate on issues critical and peculiar to Damaturu and Yobe at large.
“Our presence further represents a vote of confidence in the ability and resolve in our community as it involves all stakeholders.
In this regard, I would like to express my gratitude to EU, Alert and AFRYDEV. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to other stakeholders for their passion and commitment in peace building and ending all forms of Violence Against Women and Girls”.