IPCR: Nigeria Grapples With Threats To Peaceful Coexistence
According to Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, the Director General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Nigeria has continued to grapple with existential threats to peaceful coexistence, unity, human security and sustainable growth.
He stated that these threats stem from heightened level 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 the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Women Affairs Secretariat, 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, Ochogwu noted that women and girls have increasingly bear the brunt of oppression, harrassment, intimidation and gender-based violence.
Appreciating the Pioneer Mandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Dr. Ochogwu said, “this occasion undoubtedly has demonstrated your unwavering dedication and relentless effort in advancing gender equality and inclusivity, promoting women empowerment and fundamental rights, improving national security and stability as well as fostering socio-economic progress in Federal Capital Territory and Nigeria as a whole.”
Dr. Ochogwu disclosed that IPCR, 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.
The Director General said: “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 level 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 ethos 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 strategies to bring about real change to this narrative.
“Additionally, women have often times 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.
“More worrisome, women and girls have increasingly bear the brunt of oppression, harrassment, intimidation and gender-based violence, negatively impacting on 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.”
Speaking in what IPCR has done so far, Dr. Ochogwu said, “the Institute alongside Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and UN-Women facilitated the design of National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security in Nigeria. This veritable document, launched in 2021, has become a vital policy instrument for our nation’s peace stakeholders. More so, IPCR’s participation in this conference is a testament of our resolve to achieve this goal.”
He, however, disclosed that the disturbing state of gender inequality has received attention from national, regional and International organizations.
