The British High Commission, through the UK Integrated Security Fund (UKISF), in partnership with Global Rights, The Kukah Center and Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening women’s participation in peacebuilding and decision-making across Northwest Nigeria.
This came as both organisations convened a two-day mentorship workshop for community women leaders drawn from Kano and Sokoto States respectively.
Speaking at the event, Cliff Guy, senior programme manager for the UK Integrated Security Fund, said the mentorship session was part of a wider UK-funded initiative titled “Strengthening Pathways to Inclusive Peacebuilding Processes and Expanding Access to Justice for Marginalised Groups in Northwest Nigeria,” which has been running for the past three years.
“This mentorship session provides an opportunity for new women representatives to learn from those who have been part of community dialogue committees in states like Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara,” Guy explained.
“They will gain insights into the challenges, lessons, and best practices to strengthen their own engagement in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.”
He further stressed that the inclusion of women in community peace structures was “critical for achieving lasting peace.”
“Sustainable peace cannot exist without inclusion,” he said. “Before now, community decisions were made solely by men, but research has shown that peace processes that exclude women are less effective and unsustainable. Women’s involvement ensures that peace efforts reflect the realities of everyone in the community.”
Reiterating the UK government’s commitment to Nigeria’s stability and development, Guy noted:“Nigeria is one of the UK’s most important partners in Africa. You cannot have development without sustainable peace, and you cannot have sustainable peace without women’s participation.”
He urged participants to use the mentorship as a safe space for exchange, adding humorously,
Also speaking, Noya Sedi, programme officer at Global Rights, said the mentorship engagement was designed to help women—especially those from conservative communities—build confidence, improve their public speaking skills, and participate more actively in leadership and peace dialogues.
“We realised that as we expanded our project to more conservative areas, the women there were less outspoken and less confident,” Sedi said. “This mentorship brings together older members of the dialogue committees and experienced women leaders from across the Northwest to share experiences and inspire emerging leaders in a safe and open environment.”
She explained that the Community Dialogue Committees (CDCs), comprising women, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, were established to serve as platforms for inclusive dialogue and conflict prevention within local communities.
“Many of these women grew up in systems where men dominate leadership and decision spaces,” she noted. “What we’re doing is not to challenge men’s roles, but to create room for women to also have a seat at the table.”
According to Sedi, empowering women to speak and advocate for themselves was essential to achieving sustainable peace.
“Conflict affects everyone, but women often suffer the most—especially women with disabilities who face multiple layers of vulnerability. No one can advocate for you like yourself,” she said.
The workshop featured leading voices from the legal and women’s rights community, including Selma Ahmad Dambappa, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Kano Branch; Rashida Mohammed, Chairperson, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kano Branch; and Zubayde Nagy, of BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights.
Dambappa emphasised the importance of mentorship in helping women overcome fear and cultural constraints.
“Many women lack self-confidence due to cultural and religious barriers,” she said. “But if we do not speak as mothers and sisters, our concerns—especially on issues like gender-based violence—will continue to be ignored.”
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On her part, Rashida Mohammed, NBA Chairperson who made history as the first female secretary and later the first female chairman of her branch, shared her personal journey of perseverance in male-dominated spaces.
“It wasn’t easy,” she recounted. “But I prepared myself with knowledge—of the culture, the religion, and the system. I didn’t campaign as a woman asking for sympathy; I showed what I had achieved. That’s how I earned my place.”
She praised the mentorship initiative, saying it filled a long-standing gap in women’s empowerment efforts.
“We’ve had many programmes for women, but mentorship is what we’ve been lacking,” she said. “This initiative is planting the seeds for lasting change.”
Also speaking, Zubayde Nagy, of BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, presented a paper on “Leadership and Agency in Community Peacebuilding.” She highlighted the need for women to develop essential leadership skills such as communication, advocacy, mediation, and negotiation.
“Every woman is a leader, starting from her home,” Nagy said. “Leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about guidance—leading your family, your community, and working towards shared peace and development.”
