By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja

The Director-General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, yesterday said that Nigeria has continued to grapple with existential threats to peaceful coexistence, unity, human security and sustainable growth.

Ochogwu said that those threats stemmed from heightened levels of insecurity, unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, climate change, marginalization and gender inequality.

In his goodwill message in Abuja at the gender and human security conference organised by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Women Affairs Secretariat, Ochogwu noted that women and girls have increasingly borne the brunt of oppression, harassment, intimidation and gender-based violence.

The conference was organised in collaboration with Centre for Gender Security Studies and Youth Advancement, University of Abuja and Office of the Director, Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) Security Services.

The IPCR director-general said that the institute, an apex peace Think-Tank and Research Agency of the Federal Government, has continued to deploy diverse peacebuilding measures to ensure gender parity and human security in the country.

“Permit me to state at this point that Nigeria has continued to grapple with existential threats to peaceful coexistence, unity, human security and sustainable growth. These threats stem from heightened levels of insecurity, unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, climate change, marginalization and gender inequality.

“Particularly, gender inequality, an unequal treatment phenomenon between males and females, has been a purveyor of discrimination, exploitation, social exclusion, violence and dis-empowerment, primarily affecting women. For instance, in some ethnic groups and family lineages, women have been denied rights to land ownership and family inheritance. However, the subsistence cultural ethoses in these scenarios have provided opportunities and privileges to their male counterparts. Indeed, this situation is unacceptable, and I believe our gathering today needs to evolve a formidable strategy to bring about real change to this narrative.

“Additionally, women have oftentimes been confronted with unequal access to power and resources, gender-based division of labour, and inequitable access to education, political participation and decision-making processes in our dear nation. Notably, 96 percent of the seats in our legislature, particularly the House of Representatives are occupied by males, creating a vacuum and hindrance to women’s contribution to good governance, sustainable peace, nation-building, and democratic consolidation,” he said.

Ochogwu said it was worrisome that women and girls have increasingly borne the brunt of oppression, harassment, intimidation and gender-based violence which negatively impacted their well-being, mental health, security and socio-economic empowerment.

“These vulnerable groups have contended with poverty and unemployment, even as their roles in conflict management and peacebuilding have not been fully explored in our nation,” he said.

On steps taken so far by IPCR to address this, Ochogwu said that the Institute alongside Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and UN-Women had facilitated the design of a National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security in Nigeria, adding that the veritable document, launched in 2021,” has become a vital policy instrument for our nation’s peace stakeholders.

According to him, the disturbing state of gender inequality has received attention from national, regional and International organisations.

In her remarks, the Pioneer Mandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, said “We gather not only to deliberate but to catalyze action on one of the most pressing issues of our time: the security of women in the FCT.”

She added that “Women in the FCT have always been on the frontline of nurturing and safeguarding our society. Today, we must recognize that their role in addressing insecurity goes far beyond the domestic sphere.

“Women bring unique perspectives and solutions that are essential to comprehensive security strategies. As primary caregivers, educators, and community leaders, women possess invaluable insights into the root causes of insecurity and the means to address them effectively.

“To tackle the challenges we face, women must not only be included but positioned at the forefront of our security interventions.”