The North-West Governors’ Forum, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, has mobilised the zone’s Commissioners for Women and Children’s Affairs to explore solutions to the lingering insecurity in the region.

This came to the fore at a roundtable on Thursday in Kaduna with the theme ‘Harnessing Women’s Voices For Lasting Peace’.

The coordinator of the NGF’s coordination desk, Jibril Hamza, said the gathering focused on promoting peace and stability while strengthening cooperation among the state governments to tackle the complex issues.

Mr Hamza emphasised that the desk, in collaboration with its partners,
recognised women’s critical role in fostering peace and security. He said women were not only victims of conflict but also agents of change uniquely positioned to bridge divides, rebuild communities, and drive sustainable development.

The coordinator thanked UNDP for its unwavering partnership, stating that lasting peace can only be achieved when women’s
voices are heard, valued, and empowered.

Also, Nurudeen Saleh, climate security specialist at UNDP, said the North-West region faces mounting security challenges. He added that in recent years, there has been a marked increase in incidents of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and communal conflicts.

Mr Saleh lamented that the issues have had devastating consequences for the local population, resulting in significant loss of lives, severe disruption to livelihoods and widespread destruction of properties.

He, therefore, underscored the urgent need for coordinated action and solutions to restore peace and stability to the region.

Mr Saleh said UNDP’s journey to address insecurity in the region began in January 2024 with a peace and security workshop organised in collaboration with the Katsina government.

He said the effort led to the decision to convene the high-level peace and security summit for the North-West state governments.

He said discussions will explore sustainable approaches to advancing food security and fostering sustainable livelihoods. It will also examine how different regional actors can support and enhance regional cooperation and integrated solutions for the region’s future development.

(NAN)