Development partners have commended Nigeria on the launch of its Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (3rd NAP) and pledged continued support for its effective implementation.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, the team lead of the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-funded, Tetra Tech-implemented Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme, Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo, said the programme is designed to support efforts to build “a more stable Nigeria where citizens benefit from reduced violence and increased resilience to the impacts of climate change”.
Acknowledging the support of UN Women and other partners, Dr Ukiwo congratulated the Government of Nigeria on what he described as “an important milestone”, commending the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs for delivering what he called a consultative, inclusive and forward-looking 3rd NAP.
He expressed honour at being part of the launch of Nigeria’s third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, reaffirming the commitment of SPRiNG to effective partnerships with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and other stakeholders to accelerate the 3rd NAP implementation to promote inclusive, evidence-driven and locally responsive Women, Peace and Security action in Nigeria.
“SPRING is committed to partnerships to strengthen implementation of NAP, especially as it relates to reforms in peace, justice, and security institutions aimed at strengthening women’s inclusion, institutional accountability, and community-centred security,” Ukiwo said
The team lead stressed that institutionalising women’s participation across peace, justice and security sectors, and ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities, remained essential to effective service delivery, public trust and leaving no one behind.
“SPRiNG is also working to complement government-led efforts to curtail vulnerability of young women and young men to radicalisation, SGBV, and institutionalising women’s meaningful inclusion and participation in peace and security governance and decision-making,” he added.
Dr Ukiwo noted that to ensure Women, Peace and Security commitments in the 3rd NAP are met, the SPRiNG Programme is supporting the implementation of relevant policies and legislation, including State and Local Action Plans on WPS.
“As Nigeria launches and adopts its third NAP today, SPRING calls for more concerted effort to advance gender-responsive and disability-inclusive peace, justice and security architecture. This should be where security sector institutions systematically embed inclusion, accountability, prevention, and resilience into policy and practice.”
In her remarks, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Ibrahim-Sulaiman, commended the Tetra Tech-implemented SPRiNG Programme for supporting the development of the 3rd NAP.
“…you’re the NGO that actually works with the government and supports the government. So we know what you’re doing. We see you, we appreciate you. We see your footprints… I will endorse. Thank you, Tetra Tech.” She said,
She described the launch as a reaffirmation of a national promise shaped by key milestones, including 30 years of the Beijing Platform for Action, 30 years of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in Nigeria and 25 years since the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
According to her, “These milestones converge here as vivid reminders that peace is strongest, most enduring and most just when women are present, when women are heard and when women are empowered to lead the process.”
She said the NAP III, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aligns national efforts with contemporary global realities and anchors them within the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Also speaking, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Beatrice Eyong, congratulated Nigeria and stakeholders on the launch.
Represented by UNICEF Country Representative Waafa Saeed, she stressed that while the development and adoption of the plan is important, implementation remains the most critical step, calling for dedicated funding and the localisation of the NAP across all 36 states of the federation.
“”…developing and adopting a National Action Plan is a means to an end. The implementation is the most critical action required to achieve set goals and objectives. ”
She congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the National Assembly, heads of security agencies, women mediators, HeForShe champions, media networks and other stakeholders, while also commending the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs for coordinating what she described as an inclusive process.
Eyong reaffirmed UN Women’s commitment to supporting the Women, Peace and Security agenda, gender equality and women’s empowerment in Nigeria.