Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has directed local government chairmen in Nasarawa State to replicate a two-day capacity building training on women in leadership and peace building across all 13 local government areas.
The Governor gave the directive, during the opening ceremony of the training, organised by the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser and the Colombian Government, in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Government, at the Late Aliyu Doma Banquet Hall.
Sule, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, said local government chairmen should work with traditional institutions, women and youth organisations, community associations and security agencies to take the training to the grassroots.
He said this would deepen community resilience, encourage local ownership of peace initiatives and sustain the gains of the programme beyond Abuja.
The Governor said Nasarawa State remains a microcosm of Nigeria, home to many ethnic nationalities, cultures and religious traditions living side by side.
He said this diversity was one of the state’s greatest strengths but also a reminder that peace must be nurtured through justice, inclusion, mutual respect and shared responsibility.
He described women as connectors of families, promoters of dialogue and healers of broken societies, adding that lasting peace could not be secured by security institutions alone but required the collective efforts of government, communities, traditional and religious institutions, and civil society.
Governor Sule said his administration, since 2019, has continued to create opportunities for women to participate in leadership and decision making, including support for skills acquisition, self-employment and wealth creation among women.
He commended the National Counter Terrorism Centre, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Colombian Government for organising the training, and expressed the state government’s commitment to continued cooperation on peace and security initiatives.
Also speaking at the event, the Director, Directorate of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism at the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Ambassador Abimbola Wonosikou, said women were often the first to notice early signs of radicalisation within their families and communities and were well placed to promote dialogue and rebuild trust.
She commended Governor Sule for hosting the event.
Meanwhile, the head of the Colombian delegation, Mariano Hernandez, said women in Colombia had played a critical role in tackling security challenges, and that the mission was in Nasarawa State to share that experience and learn from Nigeria in turn.
In his welcome address, the Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, SAN, said the training reflected a shared conviction that sustainable peace was best achieved when women were empowered to take up leadership roles and participate actively in conflict prevention, mediation and community development.
The SNGS said Governor Sule had provided an enabling environment for inclusivity in governance, economic advancement, political stability and infrastructural development in the state.
Umar Muhammed
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