The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-Nigeria) has concluded plans to bring together young women leaders who are involved in peacebuilding and conflict resolutions from across Nigeria for a 2-day training on Intergenerational Peacebuilding as part of efforts to sharpen their skills and increase the number of young women in peace building processes in the country.

The programme, according to WANEP is aimed at accelerating the effective implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1325 and 1820 and their supporting resolutions on Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security in Nigeria.

WANEP Nigeria National Network Coordinator, Dr Bridget Osakwe said the virtual programme, which will take place between May 15th and 16th is partnered by the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) has received the support of the Global Affairs Canada’s Peace and Stabilization Operation Program (PSOP).

Dr Bridget said “the Youth Forum on Intergenerational Peacebuilding in Nigeria aims to convene young women Leaders for Peace with Peacebuilding practitioners and experts from across the country. The forum will promote mutual understanding, respect and collaboration among young women Peacebuilders and more seasoned peacebuilding practitioners contributing to the advancement of the WPS and YPS resolutions in Nigeria.”

She added that the older generation of peacebuilding practitioners will serve to mentor the young women Peacebuilders. It is expected that the forum will provide the opportunity for knowledge exchange and foster multi generational cooperation among Peacebuilders for the actualization of the Nigerian WPS and YPS National Action Plan (NAPs).

Also speaking, Head of Programme at WANEP Nigeria, Patience Obaro told journalists that the expected outcome of the two event include increased understanding and cooperation between young women Peacebuilders and established practitioners contributing to a broader and enriched perspective on the implementation of the WPS and YPS
Resolutions in Nigeria.

She disclosed that since 2021 the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP Nigeria) has been partnering on the project Localization of the Women, Peace and Security Resolutions in Nigeria.

According to her, some of the projects successfully carried out by the peace body are the localization of UNSCR 1325 Workshops in Gombe and Bauchi state as well the localization workshops to develop Local Action Plans on UNSCR 1325 Katagum and Toro local government areas in Bauchi State and Balanga and Kwami LGA in Gombe State.

The rest are training of trainers for Young Women Leaders for Peace on Leadership, Peacebuilding and Advocacy, training workshop on the Women, Peace and Security Resolutions for Media Practitioners, development of the “Guidelines for the Localization of Nigeria’s National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 and Related Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security.

The other is the localization training of trainers’ workshop for Civil Society Organisations for the Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Resolutions in Nigeria among others.