World Peace Day: WANEP advocates against all form of discrimination on Women

By our reporter 

As the World marked the 2022 International Day of Peace, with the theme: End Racism. Build Peace, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Nigeria has kicked against all forms of discrimination against women. 

Speaking during a visit to some women groups who converged at Ossissa, Ndokwa East local government area of Delta State, the National Coordinator of WANEP Nigeria – Chief Mrs. Bridget Osakwe said it was time to end all forms of discrimination against women. She said empowering women groups will go a long way in achieving this.

“Women groups are being developed and empowered to ensure they are not being discriminated when it comes to issues concerning decision making, peace, and security. 

“I’m looking forward to engaging the young girls in order to build their capacity as it regards decision making, peace, and security. This will help to raise community of peace builders amongst girls and young women. We have been in the business of building peace actors and we’ll not relent”, said the liberal feminist.

In a Remark, the President of United Women Peacebuilders Network- Mrs. Nwachukwu Augustina thanked WANEP for the various empowerment programs they’ve brought to the women of Delta State. She said the group which is geared towards increasing community participation of women, has 16 groups registered under the network. She also said it of the 16 groups, 7 have registered as coorperative societies. She called on the young women amongst them to emulate the older ones in order to promote peace in their communities.

On her part, WANEP’s Head of Program- Mrs. Patience Ikpe Obaulo urged the women groups to engage in their communities activities that promote peace. She said she was happy to see young women amongst them, saying ore trainings shall be done for them.

Also speaking, the Edo State Coordinator of WANEP- Mrs. Agatha Osieke, Esq. urged the women groups to leverage the opportunites offered by some peacebuilding oganisations/institutions online. She said there are plethora of free online courses in the area of peacebuilding, mediation, conflict resolution and management, etc. 

Speaking on eradication of fear from women folk, the Delta State focal person of Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET), Dr. Mrs. Rachael Nisan-Ripped urged group leaders to embark on programs that will help empower the women educationally, socially, and financially. She said this is the only way the women can be emancipated from the shackles of fear. She thanked WANEP for the role they’ve played in empowering women all over Nigeria.

There was peace-march round strategic locations of Ossissa in a bid to creating awareness about the International Day of Peace.

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.